Maine child labor laws currently require that to hold any non-farm, non-hazardous job, persons under age 16 must obtain a work permit signed by the Superintendent of Schools certifying good academic standing. And persons under age 14 can work paid jobs only on farms.
The LePage administration is advocating for a change to the law to permit persons aged 14 and 15 to work for family members, and in the summer, in any non-hazardous job without a permit.
The current record-low Maine unemployment rate is aggravating the shortage of available summer tourism and hospitality workers resulting from insufficient availability of H-2B visas.
