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#Texas Child Labor Law

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Overview

Child Labor Laws cover any employee under 18 years of age. Once an individual reaches age 18, they are considered an adult under child labor laws.

The Texas Child Labor Law ensures that a child is not employed in an occupation or manner that is harmful to the child's safety, health or well-being. It is illegal to employ a child under age 14 except under specific circumstances described on this page.

State law allows TWC to adopt rules regarding employing children. Our rules 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 well-being.

TWC or its designee may inspect a place of business during work hours to collect information about the employment of children if there is good reason to believe a child is or has been employed within the last two years. Knowingly or intentionally hindering an investigation is illegal.

All businesses are subject to state law but only those businesses covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA ) are subject to the federal law.

If in doubt, or when both Federal and State laws apply, businesses should follow the stricter guidelines.

General Exemptions

When a business is owned or operated by a parent or legal custodian, the parent or custodian may employ their own children at any age to work any hours, so long as the work is non-hazardous (not prohibited) and the child works under the parent or custodian’s direct supervision.