www.TeensWorkSafe.com

Youth Employment

The teenage years are an important part of everyone's lives. A greater discovery of the world takes place and the march towards adulthood begins.

One of the first great experiences during this time is the first job. Responsibility, timeliness, honesty, teamwork, resourcefulness, the ability to communicate, decisiveness and confidence are all elements of that first paycheck. The Missouri Division of Labor Standards closely works with Missouri employers, parents and school superintendents to encourage youth to participate in the work world and helps assure that their first job is safe, appropriate and complementary to their education.

Missouri's child labor law (Chapter 294, RSMo) provides guidelines to employers who employ 14 and 15-year olds. For example, work certificates are required before employment begins; the certificates are issued by the local public school superintendent's office. In addition, there are time and hour restrictions for 14 and 15-year olds. These times differ whether a teen currently is attending school or is out on summer break. Most important, there are prohibited occupations listed (such as cooking, driving and roofing) of which teens, parents, employers and school superintendents need to be aware.

There are approximately 165,000 14 and 15-year olds in Missouri. The Division of Labor Standards is committed to working with teens, parents, employers and school superintendents as a partner to positively shape every Missouri teen's experience in the workplace. We invite you to browse the information on this website and begin a dialogue with us on youth workplace safety in Missouri.

Need a form? Download (PDF) a Work Certificate or an Entertainment Work Permit Request - A child 14 or 15 years of age must obtain a work certificate and submit it to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards. Regardless of where the child attends school (public school, private school or home school), the work certificate must be obtained from the superintendent or authorized designee of the public school district where the child resides.

Child Labor is a program of the Missouri Division of Labor Standards