Every minor in the state of New Jersey must obtain a certificate of employment before they can work legally. Although many schools provide their students with the necessary documents, local government offices and websites can show minors how to get a work permit in the summer. Until next time, God bless you, keep smiling when Your Legal Corner shares «A Teen`s Perspective on Safe Driving.» Victoria M. Dalton is an attorney at the law firm of Hoffman DiMuzio. If you have any questions, please contact Victoria at vdalton@hoffmandimuzio.com. Please note that Your Legal Corner was created to provide educational articles on the law and does not constitute legal advice. «The assumption here is that a 16- to 18-year-old knows what falls under the Fair Labour Standards Act and should be working overtime after 40 hours,» Martino said. «It`s in the law and that`s what employers are supposed to do. But we start from many assumptions here.
Martino said many employers have good intentions, but many others in low-wage industries are deliberately circumventing the law, which will hurt unsuspecting teenagers. Any person under the age of 18, the generally accepted age of legal majority, exists as a minor in the State of New Jersey. While New Jersey miners are able to find employment, there are restrictions on the type of work they can do. Eleven- and twelve-year-olds work, for example, such as newspaper delivery, agriculture and the entertainment industry. Other jobs include nursery work, animal husbandry, gardening and forestry are available with parental consent. Even with a proper work permit, some professions remain too dangerous for minors. In general, miners are unable to perform work involving the handling of paint, lead, other hazardous chemicals, toxins or explosives. The use of power tools and heavy machinery is also prohibited. It is also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to work in an establishment that serves or sells alcohol for consumption on the premises. They are also unable to work in environments requiring indecent exposure, construction, packaging and slaughter of meat, or in mines or quarries.
Find out what the law covers and how to talk to your boss. The minimum wage for most New Jersey employers is $12 per hour as of January 1, 2021. Small employers (with fewer than six employees) only have to pay $10.30 per hour. The state`s minimum wage is higher than what is required under the Fair Labor Standards Act, so New Jersey employers should make sure to pay the higher rate. That depends. State law does not require companies to offer vacation or other benefits, such as severance or vacation. But any company that offers these benefits must manage them consistently and follow the guidelines that have been put in place. Uneven enforcement of leave policies can result in legal liability. Federal child labor laws stipulate, with some exceptions, that the minimum age for work is 14 years. In New Jersey, children under the age of 14 are allowed to work in certain areas as long as they receive special permits. For newspaper deliverers, the minimum age is 11 years; for agricultural work, the minimum age is 12 years; And there is no minimum age to work in the theatre. This special approval is called the A310 Combined Certificate Form.
There is also a section on the form that must be completed by a licensed physician. A sports organization should suffice, unless the minor`s school regulations require a recent physical examination. If the parent wishes, the form can also be completed by the minor`s pediatrician. A parent or guardian must also consent to the minor`s employment and provide proof of age. The minor must return the completed form to his school and the designated school official will issue the certificate of employment as long as the work does not harm his education or health. Certain types of businesses are not required to pay minimum wage to their employees under New Jersey law. These include: With the vouchers under your belt, you`ll be a more attractive candidate. But this amendment does not do enough, say supporters who have also expressed outrage that young people hired for long hours are not sufficiently protected by a law that updates a 1940 law. The bill`s sponsors have not reached out to parental advocates, said Diana Autin of the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network. While lawmakers have included parental consent in the final wording of the law, this does not take into account the risks of requiring teens to work 50 hours a week.
The minimum age for admission to employment does not include work in the agricultural sector, where young people can start working at the age of 12, or in the entertainment industry, where there is no age requirement. There are also other child labor laws that limit the hours of child labor and regulate the minimum wage. Teens who have not yet reached the age of 14 can usually do a number of jobs, including paper routes where teenagers who have reached the age of 11 can perform.