U.S. Department of Labor
FLSA - Child Labor Rules
Youth of any age may be employed at any time in any occupation in agriculture on a farm owned or operated by their parent or person standing in place of their parent. Because the youth's parents own or operate the farm where the youth does or will work, the Federal child labor rules do not apply to that child's employment.
The Federal child labor rules would apply if the youth's parent hired their child's friends, or other children. Remember, that the child labor rules for agricultural employment are the same for all youth, migrant children as well as local resident children. If you want to know what work those children are allowed to do, please review the Employer section of the FLSA Child Labor Advisor.
All states have child labor rules, mandatory school attendance laws, and determine the minimum age at which youth may operate motor vehicles. When state and Federal child labor rules are different, the rule that provides the most protection to the youth is the one that must be followed.
