Due to the exploitation of child labor in the past, officials set up child labor laws to protect kids. These allow them to have a safe, healthy upbringing where they can focus on school.
However, teens may want to get part-time jobs just to get spending money, to save up money for college or even to help with the family bills. How old do they need to be to do this?
Generally speaking, the minimum age for working is set at 14 years old. Younger children cannot obtain employment at most places of business, though there are some rare exceptions.
These young workers — who are between 14 and 18 years old — also need to get a child employment certificate under New Jersey law. They can get it at school. All they need to do is visit the office to speak to officials about their employment plans and what they need to do to get the right documentation.
Now, it was mentioned above that there are exceptions. These include things like working on a farm, working as a door-to-door salesperson and working in the child entertainment industry. On top of that, some young people can get jobs like delivering newspapers or babysitting, regardless of their age.
So, if a parent has a 13-year-old child, he or she may be allowed to make money by babysitting the neighbors’ kids, but not by working at the nearest fast food restaurant.
It is very important for workers, especially when they are very young and inexperienced, to know all of the legal rights they have.
