Legal provisions
According to Article 5 of the UAE’s Labour Law, it is prohibited to employ juveniles, those between the age of 15 and 18 years. Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation does not issue work permits to juveniles, whether Emiratis or expatriate residents.
On the other hand, the law allows juveniles to work with an official work permit issued by MoHRE, provided that the employer wishing to employ the youth meets certain conditions, which include:
- A clear coloured photo with a white background
- A written consent signed by the juvenile's guardian or custodian
- A certificate of fitness for the work required, issued by the medical authority
- A copy of the passport and a copy of a valid residence permit
- The employment contract approved by the ministry and containing the signature of the employer and the employee.
Terms and conditions:
According to the law, juveniles may not be employed at night, in industrial projects, or in work that is dangerous or harmful to health. Read the other terms and conditions for hiring juveniles.
- The work should not be such that is forbidden to be carried out by juveniles.
- The work for which the juvenile will be hired, must be in line with the activities of the establishment.
- The establishment's licence must be valid and there must be no violations leading to suspension of the activity in accordance with the legal regulations.
- The application for a permit must be submitted by the legally authorised signatory on behalf of the establishment.
- The juvenile to be employed should not be holding a valid work permit.
Note that:
- no insurance or bank guarantee is required for the permit to be issued.
- an electronic quota is not required to obtain a juvenile work permit.
Read more about the UAE’s system for employing minors in Article 4 of the Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 on the Implementation of the Regulation of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 Regarding the Regulation of Labour Relations.
The UAE is a party to the following international human rights treaties on children:
Training and employing students
Since 2016, the UAE has issued many resolutions enabling students to work and get trained at operating establishments. The latest is Ministerial Decree No. 519 of 2018 on Regulations and Conditions of Training and Employment of Students (PDF, 250 KB).
According to this resolution, any establishment may train students aged 15 years and above, on the condition of a written contract. The contract must include:
- the areas of training
- duration of the training period
- weekly and other holidays
- the value of the bonus, if any, and any privileges granted to the trainee.
Additionally, any establishment may recruit students aged 15 years and above during their academic holidays, for maximum three consecutive months each time. An employment contract must clarify the nature of work, its duration, the wage, weekly holiday and the number of daily working hours.
Conditions for employing or training students
In addition to the general conditions listed in Article 5 of the UAE Labour Law, other conditions include:
- proof of the ‘student’ status
- a valid UAE residence visa for expatriate students
- a copy of Emirates ID
- in case of training, a ‘no objection’ certificate from the educational institute in which the student is enrolled.
The trained or employed student, is not entitled to end-of-service gratuity and any other leaves, except as stipulated in the contract.
* Text provided by MoHRE
FAQs
Minors ages 16 and 17 may work four hours per day on any school day and eight hours on any nonschool day or on any day preceding a nonschool day up to 48 hours per week. WEE students and personal attendants may work more than four hours on a school day, but never more than eight hours.
What are the rules for minors working in California? ›
Under California law, 12 and 13 years old are not allowed to work on school days and can't work more than 8 hours on non-school days. minors, including as late as 11:30 p.m. on school nights; denied required rest breaks; and subjected to sexual harassment at work.
How many hours can a 17 year old work in California during school? ›
During the school year, minors aged 16 to 17 generally are limited to 4 hours of work on a school day, 8 hours on a nonschool day, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (or until 12:30 a.m. on a nonschool day). When school is out, the limits are 8 hours per day and 48 per week.
How many hours can a 17 year old work in PA? ›
A: Minors 16 years of age or older may not be employed before 6 am or after 12 midnight during a regular school week. The minor may not be employed for more than 8 hours in a single day or more than 28 hours per week during a regular school week.
Can minors be denied overtime rates? ›
Extra players are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked beyond specified thresholds in a workday. Minors, except those required by law to attend school, receive overtime pay for all hours worked on the sixth consecutive workday.
What is the youngest age you can work in California? ›
California's minimum legal age to work is generally 14 years old. However, anyone under 18 must have a work permit, called a Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit. The minor's school typically issues these permits. Most minors will need their parents' permission to work.
What is the latest a 17 year old can work? ›
In most jobs, you can't normally be asked to work between 10pm and 6am. If your contract says you have to work until 11pm, that's alright but you shouldn't start work before 7am the next morning. You can be asked to work at other times in exceptional circ*mstances.
What are the labor laws for 17 year olds in California? ›
16- and 17-year-olds may work 4 hours per day on any school day, 8 hours on any non-school day or any day preceding a non-school day, up to 48 hours per week, and between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p. m., except on evenings preceding non-school days, the minor may work until 12:30 a.m.
Does a 17 year old need a work permit in California? ›
Except in limited circ*mstances defined in law and summarized in the Child Labor Law Booklet, all minors under 18 years of age employed in the state of California must have a permit to work.
What is the minimum wage for minors in California? ›
What is the minimum wage for a 16-year-old in California? The minimum wage for a 16-year-old in California who isn't in school or otherwise exempt is the same as for adults, at $13 per hour for organizations with fewer than 25 staff and $14 per hour for those that employ 26 or more staff members.
Children less than 13 years old* cannot give consent to sexual activity. Teens ages 13-15 years old cannot consent to sexual activities with anyone who is 4 or more years older than them. People ages 16 years and older can legally consent to sexual activity.
Can a 12 year old work in PA? ›
Minors under 14 years of age may not be employed or permitted to work in any occupation, except children employed on farms or in domestic service in private homes. No minor under 14 years of age may be employed on a farm by a person other than the farmer.
What is minimum wage in PA? ›
What is the Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania? The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour.
Can you get fired for turning down overtime? ›
In general, under both federal and state law state it is not illegal for an employer to fire an employee for refusing to work overtime. In other words, an employee is permitted to refuse to work overtime, but at the same time, an employer may also terminate you for your refusal.
When did child labor start? ›
Child labour started between late 1700s and earlys 1800s in united states of America. During this period industrial revolution took place and the factories needs worker. At the same time many families required work for their survival.
When did child labor end? ›
The most sweeping federal law that restricts the employment and abuse of child workers is the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), which came into force during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration.
How many hours can minors work in California? ›
4 hours per day on any school day. 8 hours on any nonschool day or on any day preceding a nonschool day. 48 hours per week. Work Experience Education (WEE) students and personal attendants may work more than 4 hours on a school day, but never more than 8 hours.
Can a minor work without a work permit in California? ›
Except in limited circ*mstances defined in law and summarized in the Child Labor Law Booklet, all minors under 18 years of age employed in the state of California must have a permit to work. Prior to permitting a minor to work, employers must possess a valid Permit to Employ and Work.
How long can minors work on set in California? ›
On a school day, school age minors may work as follows:
Age 6-8: four hours (maximum eight and a half hours on set) Age 9-15: five hours (maximum of nine and a half hours on set) Age 16-17 six hours (maximum of ten and a half hours on set)
How many hours can a 14 year old work at Mcdonald's California? ›
14- and 15-year-olds cannot take shifts during school hours and are usually limited to a total of three hours each school day (18 hours total per school week) or eight hours each non-school day (40 hours per non-school week) — this could vary depending on your state and local laws.
