Massachusetts Minor’s Work Permit

Per Mass.gov, "All minors under the age of 18 must complete an employment permit application and get their permit before starting a new job. You can download the Youth employment permit application and the Youth Employment Permit Process." 

• For minors who are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, permits are issued by the superintendent of schools for the municipality in which the minor lives or attends school.
• If the minor lives outside the Commonwealth, the permit is issued by the superintendent for the community where the minor's job will be located. Any teen applying for a work permit from out of state should contact the superintendent in the school district where they will be working in Massachusetts to determine how to receive a work permit. It is up to each superintendent to determine how the work permits will be issued within their district.
• Minors must provide the specific employer, work address, and job description to receive a permit.
• The child labor law covers minors who are no longer students in the same way as students of the same age.

Per Mass.gov,

Employers must keep original work permits on file at the place of employment as long as the minor works at that location or until the minor reaches the age of 18. If the minor's employment is terminated for any reason, the employer has to return the permit to the superintendent's office within two days of the termination. If the employer returns the permit, there is no law that specifies any requirements for maintaining permits.

Minors cannot transfer a permit given for one job to another job. The process must begin again, even if the employer is the same but the work location has changed. A minor does not have to apply for a new employment permit at the beginning of the school year if they have the same job.

There are many jobs that are prohibited for minors to participate in based on their age. Please navigate to mass.gov to review the list. 

Per Mass.gov, 

Work Hours (14-15 years of age)

• Only between 7am-7pm during the school year
• Only between 7am-9pm during the summer (from July 1st, through Labor Day)

Maximum Hours When School Is in Session (14-15 years of age)

• 18 hours per week
• 3 hours per day on a school day
• 8 hours per day on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays
• 6 days per week

Maximum Hours When School Is Not in Session (14-15 years of age)

• 40 hours per week
• 8 hours per day
• 6 days per week

Work Hours (16-17 years of age)

• Only between 6am-10pm (on nights not preceding a regularly scheduled school day) - if the establishment stops serving clients or customers at 10:00pm, the minor may be employed until 10:15pm.
• Only between 6am-11:30pm (on nights not preceding a regularly scheduled school day)

Maximum Hours of Work - Whether or not School Is in Session (16-17 years of age)

• 48 hours per week
• 9 hours per day
• 6 days a week

Per Mass.gov,

After 8:00pm, all minors must have direct and immediate supervision of an adult supervisor who is located in the workplace and is reasonably accessible to the minor. 

Per Mass.gov

• Questions about the state child labor laws should be directed to the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Fair Labor Division by calling (617) 727-3465.
• Questions about federal child labor laws should be directed to the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage, and Hour Division by calling (617) 624-6700.