For the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, protecting children in the workplace is the top priority. The division is responsible for enforcing foundational labor standards, including the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments.

We know safe first jobs allow young people to develop skills, earn money, and gain valuable experience. These are the kinds of good jobs that can put young workers on the path to good careers. But there’s also dangerous work that should never be done by kids. The government and private sector have a shared responsibility to ensure the safety of all minors in the workplace.

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