Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum age for employment (14 years for non-agricultural jobs), restricts the hours youth under the age of 16 may work, and prohibits youth under the age of 18 from being employed in hazardous occupations.
Minimum Age Standards For Employment 16 - Basic minimum age for employment. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may be employed for unlimited hours in any occupation other than those declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.
There is no days per week restriction. 16 and 17-year-old minors enrolled in school may not work for more than nine hours in any one day, 40 hours in a school week, 48 hours in a non-school week, and six days in any one week.
Employment Certificates The commission will issue a certificate of age after approval of the application and documentary proof of age. This certificate is required for any child between the ages of 14 and 18 to work, unless employed directly by a parent or guardian.
Employment Certificates Minors 14 and older may apply to the Texas Workforce Commission for a certificate of age that states the date of birth of the minor. The commission will issue a certificate of age after approval of the application and documentary proof of age.
Furthermore, a child 14 or 15 years of age may work only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the school year. Between June 1 and Labor Day, a child may work between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. A child 16 or 17 years of age has no restrictions on the number of hours or times of day they may work.
Minors ages 16 and older are exempt from the hour and scheduling restrictions. These minors may work as many daily and weekly hours as the job responsibilities require or the employer requests.
Employees who are between 16 and 17 are allowed to work four hours a day on school days or eight hours on non-school days or days preceding non-school days with a maximum of 48 hours per week.