Child Labor Unit

Protecting Oklahoma’s Young Workforce

The Child Labor Unit (CLU) is committed to enforcing Oklahoma’s child labor laws to protect minors and ensure they are employed under safe, fair, and legal conditions. These laws regulate:

Legal age for employment
Work permit process
Work hours and breaks
Prohibited jobs to safeguard young workers’ well-being

In Oklahoma, these laws apply to children aged 14-17 in non-farm jobs. The law outlines occupations that may harm minors' health or morals and identifies hazardous jobs that could jeopardize their safety. Farm jobs, however, are exempt from the Oklahoma Child Labor Law.

Prohibited Jobs for Minors Under 16

To protect minors under 16, they are not allowed to work in the following industries or occupations:

Construction
Cooking or baking
Fryers or grills
Hoisting devices
Ladders or scaffolds
Lawn mowing or weed-eating (except when self-employed)
Loading/unloading
Manufacturing, mining, or processing
Motor vehicles or as helpers on vehicles
Power-driven machines or equipment
Public messenger service
Public utilities and communications
Slicers or sharp knives
Transportation of persons or property by rail, highway, air, water, pipeline, or other means
Warehousing and storage

For minors aged 16-18, additional prohibited occupations apply under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Work Permit Requirements

In Oklahoma, 14 and 15-year-olds are required to obtain a work permit from their school before starting employment. Employers are legally required to have this certificate on file. The permit must be approved by the principal or an administrative officer of the minor's school, or by the parents if the minor is homeschooled. The issuing officer verifies the minor's age and ensures compliance with school laws (Title 70 Section 10).

For more details, visit our Work Permit Information page.

Work Hours for Minors Under 16

Minors aged 14 and 15 can only work:

Outside of school hours
After 7:00 a.m.
Before 7:00 p.m. (extended to 9:00 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day)

They may not work:

More than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week when school isn’t in session
More than 3 hours on a school day, including Friday
More than 18 hours per week when school is in session

Break Periods

Minors under 16 are entitled to the following breaks:

A 30-minute rest period for every 5 hours worked
A 1-hour rest period for every 8 hours worked

Federal law also restricts hours and job types for young workers. For more information, visit youthrules.gov.

Important Links:

Our goal is to safeguard young workers by providing clear guidelines and ensuring compliance with child labor laws. Contact the Child Labor Unit for further assistance.

Last Modified on Sep 09, 2024