YESA limits how long and how late minors may work, and employers are responsible for tracking hours to ensure compliance.

• Workers under 16 have stricter daily and weekly hour limits.
• Workers ages 16–17 have expanded hours, but limits still apply.
• Required meal and rest periods depends on hours worked.

Before starting work, a minor must have a valid work permit. Here’s a look at the process:

• The minor obtains the permit from their school (public, charter, or private).
  • Effective Oct. 1, 2026, all youth work permits in Michigan must be obtained exclusively through the State of Michigan’s centralized work permit system, overseen by the Wage and Hour Division.
• A school official approves and issues the permit.
• The permit must list the specific employer and job.

Employers must keep the work permit on file. (The law will change on Oct. 1, 2026)

Minors may not perform certain dangerous tasks, and employers are responsible for ensuring minors are not assigned prohibited duties.

Prohibited Examples:

• Operating certain power-driven machinery
• Using meat slicers
• Working with hazardous chemicals
• Operating certain hoisting or heavy equipment

Minors must be supervised at all times by an adult (age 18 or older) while working.

Employers must:

• Post required YESA notices in the workplace
• Maintain accurate time records for each minor employee
• Keep work permits on file (law changes on Oct. 1, 2026)