Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Labor Standards and Safety Division

Summary of Alaska Child Labor Law

All minors 14-16 and must have a work permit on file with the Department. Minors 17 years of age are required to have an approved work permit If the employer has a restaurant designation and is licensed to sell alcohol.

HOURS OF WORK RESTRICTIONS:
NO MINOR UNDER 18 MAY WORK MORE THAN 6 DAYS IN ANY WORK WEEK

ALASKA YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MAY WORK ONLY IN THE FOLLOWING OCCUPATIONS:

1. Newspaper sales and delivery.
2. Baby-sitting, handiwork and domestic employment in or about private homes.
3. The entertainment industry, with an approved work permit from the Alaska Wage and Hour Administration.

14 & 15 YEAR OLDS:

WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION. 
Hours will be limited to a total of nine hours of school attendance plus employment in any one day;  work will be performed only between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. and total hours worked will be limited to 23 in any week.
DURING SCHOOL VACATIONS.
Work hours will be limited to 40 hours per week between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.

MINORS 17 AND UNDER CANNOT BE EMPLOYED IN:

1. Occupations in manufacturing, handling or use of explosives.
2. Occupations of motor vehicle driver or helper (some limited restrictions).
3. Mining operations including coal.
4. Logging or occupations in the operations of any sawmill, lathe mill, shingle mill or cooperage.
5. Operation of power-driven woodworking machines.
6. Occupations with exposure to radioactive substances and to ionizing radiation.
7. Operation of elevators or other power-driven hoisting apparatus.
8. Operation of power-driven metal forming, punching and shearing machines.
9. Occupations involving slaughtering, meat packing, processing or rendering.
10. Occupations involved in the operation and cleaning of power-driven bakery machines.
11. Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven paper products machines.
12. Occupations involved in the manufacture of brick, tile and kindred products.
13. Occupations involved in the operation and cleaning of circular saws, band saws, and guillotine shears.
14. Occupations involved in wrecking, demolition and shipwrecking operations.
15. Occupations involved in roofing operations.
16. Occupations involved with excavation operations.
17. Electrical work with voltages exceeding 220, or outside erection or repair and meter testing       including telegraph and telephone lines.
18. Occupations involving exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
19. Occupations involved in canvassing, peddling, solicitation of door-to-door contributions, or acting as an outside salesman

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS FOR 14 & 15 YEAR OLDS:

1. Occupations in manufacturing, mining or processing, including workrooms or places where    goods are manufactured, mined or otherwise processed.
2. Occupations involved in operation of power-driven machinery other than office machines.
3. Occupations in construction (including demolition and repair) except office work.
4. Any work in an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages.
5. Public messenger service.
6. Occupations in or about canneries, except office work.
7. Work performed in or about boilers, engine rooms or retorts.
8. Work involved with maintenance or repair of the establishment’s machines or equipment.
9. Occupations that involve working from windowsills, ladders, scaffolds or their substitutes.
10. Occupations handling or operation of power-driven food slicers, grinders, choppers, cutters     and bakery type mixers.
11. Work in freezers, meat coolers, or preparation of meat for sale.
12. Loading/unloading to or from trucks, railroad cars or conveyers.
13. Occupations in warehouses and storage except office and clerical work.
14. Occupations involving use of sharpened tools.
15. Occupations in transportation of persons or property except office or sales work.

BREAKS:

A minor under 18 years of age who is scheduled to work six consecutive hours is entitled to a 30-minute break during the workday.

A minor under 18 who works five consecutive hours is entitled to a 30-minute break before continuing to work.

ALCOHOL:

Only minors 16 years of age and older can work for an employer that has a restaurant designation and is licensed to sell alcohol. Minors, both 16 and 17 years of age must have an approved work permit to work on a licensed premises

TOBACCO & PULL-TABS:

AS 11.76.106 restricts access to areas where tobacco and tobacco products are sold. Minors under 19 may not sell tobacco or tobacco products in the course of their employment.
15 AAC 160.480(b) prohibits the sale of pull-tabs by anyone under the age of 21.

MARIJUANA & CANNABIS INDUSTRY:

AS 17.38.070 restricts the employment of persons under the age of 21 from working in any and all branches of the cannabis/marijuana industry, including but not limited to planting, cultivating, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting or selling.