WHO NEEDS A WORK PERMIT? No persons under
sixteen years of age shall be employed or permitted to work with or without compensation
unless the person, firm, or corporation employing such persons receives and keeps on file
accessible to any officer charged with the enforcement of the Child Labor Act, a Work
Permit, and keeps a complete list of the names and ages of all such persons under sixteen
years of age employed.
HOW DO YOU GET A WORK PERMIT? The youth must first have you, the
employer, complete the Employer Agreement For Minors Aged 14 & 15 stating the type of
work to be done, and the hours to be worked. After completed, the parent/guardian signs
this form and the youth must then provide in person to the Workforce Development Center
the completed Employer Agreement Form, and at least one of the following acceptable
evidence of age: certified copy of a birth certificate, passport, certified copy of
baptismal record showing date and place of birth and place of child’s baptism, or a
report from a school medical inspector or physician appointed by the local board of
education certifying that in the inspector’s/physician’s opinion, the applicant
is fourteen years of age or more.
WHAT HOURS CAN 14 OR 15 YEAR OLDS WORK? Outside school hours between
7:00am and 7:00pm during the school year; between 7:00am and 9:00pm from June 1 through
Labor Day. Federal child labor laws restrict maximum hours to 18 hours per week during the
school year; three hours per day Monday through Friday outside of school hours, and eight
hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays between 7:00am and 7:00pm.
WHO NEEDS A CERTIFICATE OF AGE? Youths 16 and 17. This protects you
from an unintentional violation of the Iowa Child Labor Act. The youths who are 16 and 17
years of age can obtain a Certificate of Age by appearing in person at the Workforce
Development Center with and at least one of the following acceptable evidence of age:
certified copy of a birth certificate, passport, certified copy of baptismal record
showing date and place of birth and place of child’s baptism, or a report from a
school medical inspector or physician appointed by the local board of education certifying
that in the inspector’s/physician’s opinion, the applicant is fourteen years of
age or more.
For more information on the Iowa Child Labor Law, contact the Iowa Division of
Labor at (515) 281-8493.
For information on the Federal Child Labor Law, contact the Federal Department of Labor,
Wage and Hour Division in Des Moines at (515) 284-4625.
