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What are California limitations on the hours that minors are allowed to work?




California law imposes numerous restrictions regarding the days, number of hours and time of shift that a minor subject to the work permit system may work. The following table summarizes many of the most important restrictions.

Ages 16 and 17

Ages 14 and 15

Ages 12 and 13

Grade completed

Must have completed 7th grade to work while school is in session.

Must have completed 7th grade to work while school is in session.

School in session

4 hours per day on any school day.

8 hours on any nonschool day or on any day preceding a nonschool day.

48 hours per week.

Work Experience Education (WEE) students and personal attendants may work more than 4 hours on a school day, but never more than 8 hours.

3 hours per school day outside school hours.

8 hours on any nonschool day.

18 hours per week. WEE students may work during school hours and up to 23 hours per week.

May be employed only during school holidays and vacations (usually construed to include weekends). May never be employed on any school day, either before or after school.

Daily and weekly work hour maximums for 12- and 13-year-olds who may work during the regular school year are not specified in any statute and are therefore left to local school officials to determine. However, it is very unlikely that any local school official would issue permits allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to work hours in excess of the 3 hours per day and 18 hours per week accorded to 14- and 15-year-olds. At no time during the year, or under any circumstances, may 12- and 13-year-olds work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week in the occupations permitted to them.

Not eligible for WEE programs.

School not in session

8 hours per day.

48 hours per week.

8 hours per day.

40 hours per week.

8 hours per day.

40 hours per week.

Spread of hours

5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Until 12:30 a.m. on any evening preceding a nonschool day.

WEE students, with permission, until 12:30 a.m. on any day.

Messengers may work from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

From June 1 through Labor Day until 9 p.m.

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

From June 1 through Labor Day until 9 p.m.

Source: Child Labor Laws: Chapter 5: Hours of Work



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