Child Labor Laws: Why Violations Are Rising and How to Stay Compliant

By Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP on Dec 03, 2025
6 min read 0 comment(s)

Grocery store staying compliant with child labor laws with teen workers

Across the U.S., the number of child labor law violations is climbing at a rate that should make every business owner pay attention.

In fiscal year 2024 alone, the Department of Labor found 4,030 children employed in violation of federal law. Employers paid more than $15.1 million in civil penalties, an 89% jump from the previous year.

These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of a nationwide trend fueled by labor shortages, weakened state protections, and, in some cases, managers cutting corners during busy periods. Whether intentional or not, the result is the same: serious financial penalties, reputational damage, and harm to young workers who rely on adults to protect them.

A National Surge in Child Labor Law Violations

Federal investigators have uncovered minors working overnight in slaughterhouses, operating industrial equipment in auto part factories, and cleaning meatpacking plants — jobs clearly off-limits to anyone under 18.

In January 2025, the Department of Labor had more than 1,000 open investigations into illegal child labor, with the number of children found in hazardous jobs increasing sharply since 2021.

While many employers follow the law, others may unintentionally violate it. A 15-year-old working past 7 p.m. at a restaurant or a 16-year-old exceeding the weekly hour cap in retail might not seem like a big deal in the moment — but under federal standards, both are violations that could cost a business thousands.

What’s Driving the Increase

Experts point to several converging pressures:

Labor shortages have led some companies to rely on younger workers or third-party contractors who fail to properly verify ages.
Economic pressures have incentivized longer shifts and reduced oversight in low-margin industries such as food service, agriculture and logistics.
Weakened state laws — in at least 12 states — have rolled back protections by expanding permissible work hours or removing age-verification requirements.
Vulnerable populations, particularly migrant children, are at the highest risk of exploitation, accounting for much of the recent increase in violations.

Under-resourced enforcement agencies compound the problem, making it easier for illegal practices to persist undetected.

Federal Penalties for Child Labor Violations

The Department of Labor assesses civil money penalties on a per-violation basis, meaning even small errors can add up quickly. And the price of ignoring child labor laws keeps rising.

In fact, in 2024, employers paid more than $15 million in civil penalties — nearly double the amount just two years earlier.

Penalties include:

Up to $15,138 per violation

For hour-limit violations, hiring underage workers, or allowing minors to perform prohibited tasks when no serious injury or death occurs.
Up to $68,801 per violation

When a violation causes the death or serious injury of a minor under 18.
Up to $137,602 per violation

When a serious injury or death violation is willful or repeated.

Beyond financial loss, the reputational fallout can be devastating, especially when violations involve minors injured on the job.

Federal Child Labor Law Standards at a Glance

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the national framework for child labor laws:

Children under 14 generally cannot be employed in non-agricultural jobs.
Fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds may work limited hours outside school but are restricted to non-hazardous positions. Here are the limited hours guidelines:
- Must work outside school hours
- No more than 3 hours on a school day, including Fridays
- No more than 8 hours on a non-school day
- No more than 18 hours during a week when school is in session
- No more than 40 hours during a week when school is not in session
- Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Youths ages 16 and 17 can work unlimited hours but may not perform tasks deemed hazardous by the Department of Labor.

These rules apply to nearly every industry, but specific state regulations may add another layer of complexity.

Jobs Off-Limits for Kids Under 18

Federal law prohibits minors under 18 from working in hazardous occupations. Below is a concise, easy-to-scan summary of the jobs that are off-limits under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):

Meat Processing and Slicing

Operating meat slicers, saws, grinders or choppers
Cleaning or hand-washing machine parts
Using these machines on non-meat items
Working in most meat or poultry slaughtering, packing or rendering roles

Power-Driven Woodworking Machinery

Operating chainsaws
Operating nailing or stapling machines
Operating power-driven sanders
Using any power-driven woodworking equipment

Compactors and Balers

Operating trash compactors
Operating power-driven paper-product machines
Operating balers or compactors used for recycling or disposal

Forklifts and Skid-Steers

Operating forklifts
Riding on forklifts
Assisting with forklift use
Operating non-automatic elevators
Operating skid-steers, backhoes, manlifts, scissor lifts, cherry pickers, boom trucks or cranes

Logging, Forestry and Sawmilling

Working in forest fire fighting
Working in active fire suppression
Timber tract management
Forestry services
Logging or sawmilling operations

Power-Driven Bakery Machines

Operating bakery mixers
Operating dough rollers, rounders, dividers or sheeters
Operating cookie or cracker machines
Cleaning or repairing these machines

Metal-Working Machines

Operating power-driven metal-forming machines
Operating punching machines
Operating shearing machines

Power-Driven Saws

Operating circular saws
Operating band saws
Operating guillotine shears
Operating chainsaws
Operating reciprocating saws
Operating woodchippers
Operating abrasive cutting discs

Roofing

Any roofing work
Ground-level tasks related to roofing
Removing old roofing
Any work on or about a roof

Driving

Driving motor vehicles as part of a job
Working as a driver’s helper (loading or unloading cargo)

Explosives

Working where explosives are manufactured, handled or stored

Demolition

Working in wrecking
Working in demolition
Working in ship-breaking

Mining

Working in coal mines
Working in metal mines
Working in quarries or gravel pits
Working in surface or underground mining operations

Radioactive Materials

Working around radioactive substances
Working where ionizing radiation is present

Brick and Tile Manufacturing

Working in most roles involving the manufacture of brick, tile or similar products

Trenching and Excavation

Working in trenching
Working in excavation
Entering trenches deeper than four feet

Kansas and Missouri: Know the Local Rules

In the Kansas City area, employers must also navigate state-specific child labor laws.

Kansas Child Labor Laws:

Youth under 16 are limited to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours during a school week.
Work is restricted to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. when school is in session (extended to 9 p.m. in summer).
Work permits are required for certain minors, and violations can trigger both state and federal penalties.

Child Labor Laws Missouri:

Youth under 14 are prohibited from most employment except limited activities, such as family businesses or agriculture.
Employers must maintain documentation verifying each minor’s age and permissible duties.
State lawmakers have proposed rolling back some of these requirements, but for now, the existing restrictions remain in force.

HR compliance services for small businesses from Axcet HR Solutions

Protecting Your Business — and Young Workers

Avoiding violations starts with vigilance. Employers should:

Verify every employee’s age and eligibility to work.
Train managers on federal and state youth-employment laws.
Audit schedules to ensure minors don’t exceed hour limits.
Review vendor and subcontractor practices — you can be liable for violations in your supply chain.

When in doubt, consult the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division or your HR compliance partner before hiring or scheduling minors.

Axcet Can Help

Compliance with child labor laws isn’t just about avoiding penalties — it’s about creating safe, lawful workplaces for the next generation. Axcet HR Solutions, a certified PEO headquartered in Kansas City, helps small and midsized businesses stay compliant with ever-changing employment regulations, from FLSA standards to state-specific wage, hour and safety laws.

Learn more about how our team of certified HR professionals can help your company protect its people — and its reputation. Contact us today >>

Written by

Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP

Jeanette Coleman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the Director of Human Resources at Axcet HR Solutions, where she has contributed her expertise for over 21 years.

As a leader in the HR industry, she holds advanced certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Jeanette oversees HR strategy and operations, ensuring Axcet delivers exceptional HR services that help small and mid-sized businesses stay compliant and grow.

With a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University, Jeanette is well-equipped to lead and support clients in navigating complex HR challenges.

Throughout her 15-year tenure as Director of Human Resources, she has been instrumental in positioning Axcet as the Midwest’s largest and premier Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Her previous roles at Axcet include Director of Employee Benefits and Senior HR Consultant, where she gained extensive experience in HR outsourcing, payroll administration, and employee risk management.

Jeanette’s leadership reflects her deep commitment to helping businesses thrive through strategic, compliance-driven HR solutions. Through her writing, she shares insights on HR strategy, compliance, and best practices to help employers confidently manage their workforce.

View all posts →

Related Resources

services Human Resources
- services HR Compliance

Child Labor Laws: Why Violations Are Rising and How to Stay Compliant

A National Surge in Child Labor Law Violations

What’s Driving the Increase

Federal Penalties for Child Labor Violations

Federal Child Labor Law Standards at a Glance