No. Child labor under age 14 is prohibited in Indiana under the Indiana Child Labor Law (IC 20-33-2) and federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) standards. Exceptions exist only for limited agricultural or entertainment work with strict parental and state approvals.
Key Regulations for Child Labor Under 14 in Indiana
- Parental Consent Required: Written consent from a parent or guardian is mandatory for any employment of minors under 14, though this does not override outright prohibitions.
- Permissible Work Types: Only specific exemptions apply, such as delivering newspapers, performing in theatrical productions, or working in family-owned businesses with no hazardous conditions.
- State Oversight: The Indiana Department of Labor (IDOL) enforces these restrictions, and recent 2026 compliance updates mandate additional verification of parental consent documentation for all underage work permits.
Violations of these provisions may result in fines up to $1,000 per offense under IC 20-33-2-15, with repeated infractions escalating to potential criminal misdemeanor charges. Employers must also adhere to federal FLSA child labor provisions, which impose stricter limits on hours and types of work for minors under 14. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division collaborates with IDOL to audit compliance, particularly in high-risk industries like agriculture and entertainment.