labor lawAdivision of labor law center

As you have seen—and will continue to see—when you read my blog, not only do I report on the latest and greatest when it comes to human resources news, workers’ comp news, labor law news, and any and all news that has to do with employers and employing, I also provide great in depth analysis and explanation on that news. So you get the news, and then you understand why that news is taking place, and why it is important. And how much do you get charged for all of this service? Nothing!

Anyway, my point—remember that online site that the North Carolina Department of Labor has set up for applying for child labor work permits? Well, you should remember it if you employ minors at your company. The Web site set up by the North Carolina Department of Labor is very important because it completely speeds up the process for employers and their minor employees when it comes to getting a work permit.

But that story and this Web site may leave you astute employers scratching your heads and wondering why this work permit is needed in the first permit. Doesn’t the state trust employers to check people’s ages when they first start working for them, to make sure that they are a certain age to follow state labor laws? In a word, no.

The whole child labor law process was set up because workers back in the day—back in the 19th century and early 20th century days—would abuse child labor. So the youth employment work permit is now required in North Carolina for anyone under the age of 18 to make sure that these kids aren’t working in dangerous or unhealthy locations. It also helps to make sure that 14 and 15 year old kids are not working too many hours.

Remember, back in the day, kids would work 12 hours a day, miss school and work in horrible conditions in factories and mines and such. This, folks, is now the 21st century—hence, Web sites used to prevent child labor law violations.

Last 10 posts by Mark

• North Carolina Federal Minimum Wage Alert - June 11th, 2007
• New York Federal Minimum Wage Alert - June 11th, 2007
• Arizona Workers' Comp Compromise - June 11th, 2007
• New Mexico Federal Minimum Wage Alert - June 10th, 2007
• New Jersey Federal Minimum Wage Alert - June 10th, 2007
• Maine Leaving Wage Law Not Leaving - June 10th, 2007
• New York Family Leave Law Leaving? - June 10th, 2007
• New Hampshire Federal Minimum Wage Alert - June 10th, 2007
• Whistleblower Protection Changes - June 10th, 2007
• Discrimination Law Suits Legal Case - June 10th, 2007