As summer approaches, the underage job market tends to increase like the outdoor temperature. Right now is a good time for employers to reacquaint themselves with the work rules that apply when hiring minors.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) places many restrictions on work conditions for workers under the age of 18. Here is a summary:

· Minimum Wage. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour. Federal law allows a youth minimum wage of at least $4.25 per hour for workers under age 20 during their first 90 days of employment. Their work cannot displace other workers. These states have higher minimum wage laws that would take precedence: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, MA, ME, MI, MT, NM, OH, OR, RI, UT, VT and WA.

· Hazardous Work. The FLSA provides a minimum age of 18 years for nonagricultural work that the DOL deems to be hazardous or detrimental to health and well-being. These jobs include manufacture and storage of explosives, driving a motor vehicle except on an incidental and occasional basis, mining, forestry, using power-driven woodworking machines, operating power-driven equipment for meat processing, bakeries and paper processing, using most power-driven saws and roofing operations.

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