Texas Child Labor Laws
Child Labor Laws apply to all employees who are under 18 years of age. The Texas Child Labor Laws make sure a child is not working in a job or way that could harm the child's safety, health, or well-being. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) also has rules to make sure a job does not interfere with a child’s education. It is illegal to employ a child under 14 except under specific circumstances.
TWC or its designee may inspect a business during work hours if there is good reason to believe a child is currently employed or has been employed within the last two years. It is illegal to hinder an investigation knowingly or intentionally.
All businesses are subject to state law but only those businesses covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are subject to the federal law.
To determine if a business is covered under the FLSA, contact the local U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division or visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Some state laws may be less restrictive than the federal law. If your business is covered by the FLSA and follow a less restrictive provision, you will be violating federal law. If in doubt, or when both Federal and State laws apply, businesses should follow the stricter guidelines.
For more information on federal child labor law, go to the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division Website at www.dol.gov/whd.