What Is The Texas Child Labor Law?
The purpose of the Texas Child Labor Law is to ensure that a child is not employed in an occupation or manner that is detrimental to the child's safety, health, or wellbeing. "Child" is defined as an individual under 18 years of age.
Except as specifically authorized by the statute, it is illegal to employ a child under 14 years of age. One of the principal exemptions in the statute allows the Texas Workforce Commission (Commission) to adopt rules which authorize the employment of children under 14 years of age as performers in a motion picture or a theatrical, radio, or television production. Pursuant to that authority, the Commission has adopted Texas Commission Rule Section 817.31, which sets out the procedure for authorization of work by a child actor. These rules also contain provisions designed to ensure that employment does not interfere with a child's education and does not pose a threat to the child's health, safety, or general wellbeing.
The Commission or its designee may, during working hours, inspect a place of business where there is good reason to believe a child is or has been employed within the last two years and collect information about the employment of children there. Knowingly or intentionally hindering such an investigation is a violation of the law.
Other Texas Labor and Employment FAQs
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Q:
What Is The History Of The "texas Payday Law"?
A: Effective January 1, 1990, the Texas Employment Commission (now part of the Texas Workforce Commission) was given a mandate to receive and adjudicate wage claims. The …
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Who Is Covered By The Texas Payday Law?
A: Except for public employers, all Texas business entities, regardless of size, are covered by the Texas Payday Law. Other than close relatives and independent …
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What Are The Filing Procedures?
A: An employee who feels that he or she has not been paid all wages earned may file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Complaint forms may be obtained …
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Q:
What Are The Rights, Duties And Obligations In Employment?
A: Each employee who is exempt from the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must be paid once a month; others must be paid at least twice a …
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Q:
What Are Legitimate Deductions From Wages?
A: One of the most troublesome aspects of determining what wages are due and unpaid is the question raised by deductions from wages made by the employer. The employer may …
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Q:
Is There A Requirement To Secure Payment Of Wages?
A: The Commission may require an employer to deposit a bond if the employer is convicted of two violations of the act or if a final order of the Commission remains unpaid …
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Q:
What About Collections Of Wages?
A: When an order for an employer to pay money to the Commission for the use and benefit of an employee has become final, the law allows for administrative liens and bank …
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Q:
Are There Penalties For Employers Who Dont Pay?
A: If the Commission determines that an employer acted in bad faith in not paying wages as required by the statute, the Commission may assess an administrative penalty …
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Q:
What Are The Hours Of Employment For A Child?
A: A child 14 or 15 years of age may not work more than eight hours in one day or more than 48 hours in one week. A child who is 14 or 15 years of age and is enrolled in …
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Q:
What Is The Hardship Exemption?
A: The Commission may adopt rules for determining whether hardships exist. If, on the application of a child, the Commission determines that a hardship exists for that …
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