At what age can a young person start working?
Children 14 and 15 years of age can work, but there are restrictions regarding the number of hours they can work in a day and in a week. See Acceptable Work and Hours for Youth.)
Youth Employment
What jobs are not allowable for 14- and 15-year-olds?
Prohibited occupations, which generally involve dangerous equipment (cookers, slicers), dangerous materials (toxic chemicals), or dangerous duties (driving, roofing).
In addition, there are specific restrictions on employment of youth in hotels and businesses that sell alcoholic beverages. (See Unacceptable Work and Workplaces for Youth online.)
If a young person works for a parent, does the law still apply?
The only allowable exemption from the law is when the business is owned by the parent or legal guardian and the child remains under the direct control of the parent or legal guardian. If the parent is simply a supervisor, the law still applies.
Are Work Certificates required for employment?
Any person who is 14 or 15 years old must give an employer a completed Work Certificate before performing work (See more on Work Certificates.) Individuals over 16 do not need a work certificate, but may have limitations by federal laws.
Does the superintendent of the public school need to sign off on the work certificate even if the youth is a private or home-schooled student?
Yes. Missouri law requires that work certificates are issued and signed by or under the direction of the superintendent of public schools in the district where the child lives.
What if the superintendent does not sign the work certificate because he or she is not familiar with the student?
Statutes allow the superintendent to decide whether to issue the certificate. If the superintendent is unreasonable in his/her failure to issue a work certificate, the child can take advantage of the administrative review process (see Section 536.150 RSMo.) provided by Missouri law.
Can a person under the age of 18 be an independent contractor?
No. Missouri law prohibits any individual under the age of 18 from working as an independent contractor.
What if Missouri and federal child labor laws do not agree?
The federal law (Fair Labor Standards Act) applies when a company does more than $500,000 in annual business, or their employees engage in interstate commerce. When both federal and state laws apply but do not agree on a specific point, the stricter law applies. Therefore, there must be compliance with both sets of laws.
For more information contact the Missouri Division of Labor Standards at 573-751-3403.
Are there two different Work Certificates?
Yes. One during school and one during summer with different limitations. The Labor Standards website links provide access to both: One for the time period in which school is in session (between the first and last day of the scheduled school year) during school term; and one for the time period in which school is not in session (summer break) non-school term .