Employers must keep daily time records for minors. The records must show what time the minor began work, total hours worked, and what time the minor finished for the day. Child labor laws specify how early, how late and how long minors can work.

Following are the hours and times minors may work:

A. Minors under 16 years old

Work Hours Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the school year Between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. during summer vacations only Not during school hours

Maximum Hours 3 hours a day on school days, including Fridays 18 hours in any week during a school week 40 hours in a week with no school 8 hours on days without school (during weekends, holidays, vacations, storm days, etc.) No more than 6 days in a row

B. 16- and 17-Year Olds (enrolled in school, including home-school)

The Maine law which limits hours for 16- and 17-year-old workers includes several exceptions. Federal law does not limit work hours for 16- and 17-year olds.

Work hours (may work) After 7 a.m. on a school day After 5 a.m. on a non-school day Until 10:15 p.m. on a day before a school day Until midnight if no school the next day Minors under 17 may NOT work during school hours

Maximum hours (may work)

6 hours on a school day; 8 hours on the last school day of the week - there are some exceptions for co-op (work-study) students, and students with an alternative education plan with a work component. 10 hours a day on weekends, holidays, vacations, teacher workshops 24 hours a week in any week with 3 or more school days 50 hours a week each week there are less than 3 scheduled school days or during 1st and last week of school year

May NOT work more than 6 days in a row

C. Exceptions

Students enrolled in an approved alternative education plan or an approved cooperative/vocational education program can work the daily or weekly hours required for the program without having those hours count toward the regular maximums allowed. For example, a 17-year-old student could work 15 hours under a cooperative/vocational education plan plus the 20 hours that the law would normally allow for a student under 18 years old.

The following are exempt from all of the State hourly restrictions:

A minor employed in the planting, cultivating or harvesting of field crops or other agricultural employment not in direct contact with hazardous machinery or substances. (Federal child labor laws for agriculture are different. See Section IX. Federal Prohibited Occupations.) A minor working as an employed or in-training actor; A minor working at a children’s camp; A minor who is legally emancipated; Minors employed in fishing occupations or in the operation of ferries or excursion boats are exempt from the weekly and hourly restrictions only while school is not in session