LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today proclaimed June Youth Employment Month in Michigan to help teens identify employment opportunities and to help employers provide legal and safe working environments for Michigan's working teens.

This summer more than 314,000 teenagers, ages 16-19, are expected to seek jobs in Michigan - a slight increase over last year's job market.

"By providing valuable and safe summer work experiences today, our employers are empowering Michigan's teens with the skills they will need to find good jobs in the future," said Granholm.

In recognition of Youth Employment Month, the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) offers important tips to help teens find employment and to protect them while on the job.

"The safety and well-being of the state's youngest workers must be a top priority for Michigan employers," said DLEG Director Keith W. Cooley. "Consequently, it is important for employers to be educated about youth employment laws, particularly during the summer months as more teens join the workforce to fill jobs created by the increased activity in the state's tourism and recreational industries."

Michigan's minimum wage law includes a sub-minimum wage for those less than 18 years of age. Employers are allowed to pay these young workers at a rate of 85 percent of the adult minimum wage. The current sub-minimum rate is $5.91 an hour. It will increase to $6.08 on July 1.

Protecting Working Teens

"We're kicking off a month-long campaign to educate employers about youth employment laws," said Jack Finn, director of DLEG's Wage & Hour Division. "We're working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division as part of a national effort, visiting employers to pass out materials and discuss legal aspects of employing minors in Michigan."

The educational campaign will include visits to retail and fast food establishments, where the majority of teenagers are employed, and to school districts, which are responsible for distributing work permits.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), also within DLEG, has launched a multi-year "Young Worker Initiative" to provide information about workplace safety and health to working teens in Michigan.

"According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), approximately 70 teens die every year in the U.S. from work-related injuries. The most recent data shows nearly 2,500 Michigan teens were injured on the job in a two-year period," said Doug Kalinowski, MIOSHA Director. "The goal of this initiative is to seek new avenues for providing basic workplace safety and health information to teens before they begin work or early in their working careers."

MIOSHA has developed the brochure "Extreme Safety: Important Facts for Working Teens" that explains their workplace rights and responsibilities, and fact sheets for young workers in the construction, food service and lawn care industries. MIOSHA youth material can be found at: http://www.michigan.gov/miosha; in the "MIOSHA Initiatives" section, click on "Young Worker Initiative."

Minors are required to have a work permit, which can be obtained at any Michigan local school district, intermediate school district, public school academy or non-public school. Generally, teens must be at least 14 years old for most jobs; however, children as young as 11 can work as a golf caddy or sports referee. Children, 13 years of age or older, can work on farms.

Minors, ages 14 and 15, can work between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. while 16- and 17-year-olds can be employed between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on Friday or Saturday or when not regularly attending school) for up to 48 hours per week of school and work combined.

"Michigan child labor laws require that minors not be allowed to work more than five hours without a 30-minute break period," Finn said. "Adequate adult supervision is also required for the safety of working minors. Minors cannot work past sunset or 8:00 p.m., whichever is earlier, without adult supervision at a fixed location where cash transactions occur."

Those with questions about the Youth Employment Standards Act can contact the Wage and Hour Division at (517) 335-0400 or visit www.michigan.gov/wagehour and click on "Youth Employment." A work permit fact sheet is available online at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Work_Permit_FACT_SHEET_July_2006_169123_7.pdf

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.