How many hours can a minor work?

Question

I'm seventeen years old, and im getting homeschooled currently. I was wondering what is the maximum number of hours a seventeen year old can work a week in West Virginia and Virginia? Or can somebody give me the website to look up the laws for it. ( I've tried finding the West Virginia and Virginia labor laws, but I haven't been able to find anything.) So any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Virginia Child Labor Laws can be found here, at the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry:

http://www.doli.virginia.gov/whatwedo/la...

It says "Minors 16 and 17 do not have to obtain a work permit and do not have limited hours, but are barred from working in certain particularly hazardous jobs."

So, it looks like, in VA, there is no limit to the hours you are allowed to work.

West Virginia child labor laws can be found here, at the West Virginia Division of Labor site:

http://www.wvlabor.org/home.html

and

http://www.wvsos.com/csr/verify.asp?Titl...

You can pick a Microsoft Word or WordPerfect doc.  But it says this: "§42-9-2.  General Requirements.

2.1.  Work permits must be obtained for minors aged fourteen (14) through fifteen (15) before they can be legally employed.  Work permits allow a minor to work between the hours of seven a.m. and seven p.m., but not during school hours, nor for more than eight (8) hours on a non-school day, nor for more than forty (40) hours in a non-school week.

2.2.  Age certificates can be required of minors aged sixteen (16) through seventeen (17) before they may be employed."

So, the limit is 40 hours per week when school (even when you're homeschooled) is in session.  Since you're homeschooled, it probably will go with the school year in the school district in which you reside (which is probably September to June).

Another resource is here:

http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/states.htm

Answer 2

There are limitations on how long under-age children can work.

Check with your state employment office which you live at.  Meanwhile is is a chart from Dep't of Labor.  Scan for your state:

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/state/nonfarm...