• A minor is defined as anyone who is under the age of 18. Labor laws that are part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) spell out certain restrictions and conditions for businesses who want to employ minors. According to the Department of Labor, they were enacted to protect "educational opportunities of youth and prohibit their employment in jobs that are detrimental to their health and safety." The United States Department of Labor regulates and monitors the laws and enforces compliance, but each state has its own specific laws with regard to the employment of minors.
  
  

Restrictions for All Minors in Ohio

• Any minor under the age of 18 must get a working permit. Chapter 4109 of the FLSA explains certain exemptions which are allowed. Minors are not permitted to work more than 5 hours in a row without being given at least a 30-minute rest period. Employers must keep at list of each minor employed in his business, and the list must be posted where all minor employees can see it. And, every employer has to keep some type of written time record for each minor showing the total number of hours worked and the length of the rest periods given. The records must be kept for at least 2 years.
  
  

Hourly Restrictions for 14- to 15-Year-Olds in Ohio

• Minors under the age of 16 are not permitted to work during school hours. There are certain exceptions to this that are explained in Chapter 4109 of the FLSA. From June 1 to September 1 they can't work before 7 a.m.r after 9 p.m. During the school year, they are not permitted to work after 7 p.m. On a school year, minors can't work more than 3 hours in one school day or more than 18 hours in one school week. They are also not permitted to work more than 8 hours during the day when school is in recess or more than 40 hours a week during that time period. An exception is made if the employment is part of vocational training.
  
  

Job Type Restrictions for 14- to 15-Year-Olds in Ohio

• Minors in this age group are prohibited from engaging in many occupations. The list includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing or mining jobs; public messenger services; working in freezers or meat coolers; any type of transportation; any type of construction or repair; outside window washing that involves scaffolding and/or ladders; and cooking and/or baking.
  
  

Hourly Restrictions for 16- to 17-Year-Olds in Ohio

• Hourly restrictions for this age group are less stringent than for the 14- to 15-year-olds, but there are still a couple of rules to keep in mind: 16- to 17-years-olds are not permitted to work before 7 a.m. on a school day or before 6 a.m. if that person didn't work after 8 p.m. the night before. They are also prohibited from working after 11 p.m. on a night preceding a school day.
  
  

Job Restrictions for 16- to 17-Year-Olds in Ohio

• The list of prohibited employment activities for this age group is quite extensive. A partial list of prohibited jobs includes bakery machines that are power-driven; manufacturing brick or tile; manufacturing chemicals or explosives; logging or sawmilling; coal mining; and excavation processes.