Child Labor Unit FAQs

The minimum age to be employed in Oklahoma is 14 years. Children working either on farms or for parents or any entity in which a parent owns an equity interest are exempt. Children engaged in the sale or delivery of newspapers to consumers are also exempt.

The work permit shall be approved by the principal, headmaster, or equivalent administrative officer of the school which the child attends or should be attending. The child’s parents shall approve such certificate if the child is being schooled at home. The school’s Issuing Officer verifies the minor’s age and the compulsory school requirements in accordance with Title 70 Section 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

A minor under the age of 16 years may work up to three (3) hours on school days (Monday to Friday), up to eight (8) hours on non-school days (days in which attendance is not compulsory), and up to 18 hours in a school week. A minor under the age of 16 years may work up to 40 hours in a non-school week if school is out for the entire week and attendance is not compulsory.

A minor under the age of 16 years may work up to eight (8) hours on non-school days (days in which attendance is not compulsory) and up to 40 hours in a non-school week if school is out for the entire week and attendance is not compulsory. A minor under the age of 16 years may not work overtime.

From the Tuesday after Labor Day to May 31st of the following year, a minor under age 16 years may not work before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. If the employer is not subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, a minor may be allowed to work until 9:00 p.m. throughout the year on days followed by a non-school day. Contact the U.S. Department of Labor to determine whether the employer is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

From June 1st to Labor Day, a minor under age 16 years may not work before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.

There are no restrictions on the hours or times once the minor reaches 16 years of age.

According to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, there are 17 hazardous occupations in which the minor must be at least 18 years of age to be employed, even if the parent owns the business. Contact the U.S. Department of Labor for a listing of the 17 hazardous occupations.

Minors under the age of 16 years are prohibited from performing occupations related to: construction; cooking or baking; fryers or grills; hoisting devices; ladders or scaffolds; lawn mowers and weed eaters other than working for self; loading and unloading; manufacturing, mining, or processing; motor vehicles or service as helpers on vehicles; power-driven machines or equipment; public messenger service; public utilities or communications; slicers or sharp knives; transportation of persons or property by rail, highway, air, water, pipeline or other means; warehousing or storage.

There are break laws for minors under 16 years. A 14 or 15-year-old must be permitted a one (1) hour cumulative rest period for eight (8) consecutive hours worked or a 30 minute rest period for five (5) consecutive hours worked. Employers are required to document break periods for minors under 16 years.

Once the minor reaches 16 years of age, there are no requirements for breaks or lunches.