THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HOSTS INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE CHILD LABOR TASK FORCE

 

New Interagency Collaboration Advances Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Protecting the Youth Workforce Across New York State

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) today announced that the new Child Labor Task Force held its inaugural meeting on March 28th, the first benchmark in New York State’s aggressive crackdown on child labor violations and the protection of young members of our workforce. The Child Labor Task Force will work with schools, businesses, and the public to ensure children, parents, and employers are educated on the rights of young New Yorkers in the workplace. Members discussed current procedures, campaigns, outreach, and other efforts related to underage employment and enforcement. Governor Hochul announced the formation of this task force as part of a renewed effort by New York State to combat a recent uptick in child labor violations.

“Governor Hochul continues to position New York State as a national leader in the fight against child labor violations,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “I look forward to working with my partners in government to find new ways to protect the youngest members of our workforce and to ensure that businesses are obeying the law.”

The new task force is a collaborative effort led by NYSDOL, in partnership with the New York State Police, New York State Education Department, New York Department of State’s Office for New Americans, New York State Division of Human Rights, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Workers Compensation Board, and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

The task force is part of a multi-pronged approach by the Hochul Administration to combat child labor violations. Other measures include the launch of a new employer pledge, an extensive public education campaign, the establishment of a new Labor Trafficking Response Unit, and a Child Labor online hub. The multi-agency group will take a data-first approach by using trends in child labor complaints to direct education efforts and potentially proactive enforcement of certain laws.

NYSDOL offers online guidance, broken down by ages 14-17 and 18-24,to help young New Yorkers understand what they need before applying for jobs. Topics include working papers, proper identification, resume preparation, and more. Some important tips to remember for young workers and hiring businesses are:

• Workers aged 14 to 17 need an employment certificate, also called working papers, in order to hold a job in New York State.
• There are limits to the length of shifts, time of day and the number of hours minors can work depending on their age, and if school is in session.
• Minors are prohibited from night work and have different restrictions than adults.
• Minimum wage laws apply to all workers (unless otherwise noted), including minors.
• Minors may not perform certain tasks or occupations deemed dangerous. These tasks and occupations are prohibited at the state and/or the federal level.

For more information on child labor laws, visit the NYSDOL Know Your Rights webpage. For more information on human and labor trafficking, visit the Human Trafficking webpage.