1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a minor may not be employed or allowed to work:

   1. (1) in, about, or in connection with the manufacturing of a hazardous substance;

   2. (2) in, about, or in connection with:

      1. (i) a blast furnace;
      2. (ii) a distillery where an alcoholic beverage is manufactured, bottled, wrapped, or packed;
      3. (iii) a railroad;
      4. (iv) an engineer, firefighter, or pilot on a vessel that is engaged in commerce; or
      5. (v) a dock or wharf other than a marina where pleasure vessels are sold or served; or

   3. (3) in, about, or in connection with:

      1. (i) the erection or repair of an electrical wire;
      2. (ii) the cleaning, oiling, or wiping of machinery; or
      3. (iii) an occupation that is prohibited by law.

2. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a minor under the age of 16 may not be employed or allowed to work:

   1. (1) during the school hours set for that minor;
   2. (2) about or in connection with an acid, dye, gas, lye, or paint;

   3. (3) at, about, or in connection with:

      1. (i) an airport;
      2. (ii) a brickyard;
      3. (iii) a lumberyard;
      4. (iv) a workroom or work site where goods are manufactured or processed;
      5. (v) scaffolding; or
      6. (vi) a vessel when engaged in navigation or commerce; or

   4. (4) in, about, or in connection with:

      1. (i) construction;
      2. (ii) an occupation that causes dust in an injurious quantity;
      3. (iii) a manufacturing occupation;
      4. (iv) a mechanical occupation;
      5. (v) a processing occupation; or

      6. (vi) the adjustment, cleaning, or operation of power-driven machinery except:

         1. 1. an office machine; or
         2. 2. machinery used in a school or government institution as part of vocational training.

3. (c) The Commissioner may prohibit minors being employed in an occupation if:

   1. (1) after a public hearing, the Commissioner determines that employment in the occupation should be prohibited to minors;
   2. (2) the Commissioner adopts by reference a determination by the United States Secretary of Labor under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938¹ that the occupation is hazardous; or

   3. (3) after investigation, the Commissioner determines that the occupation is injurious to:

      1. (i) the health or welfare of minors; or
      2. (ii) the morals of minors under the age of 16 years.

Added by Acts 1991, c. 8, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 2025, c. 513, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 514, § 1, eff. July 1, 2025; Acts 2026, c. 167, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.

Formerly Art. 100, §§ 7, 10, 11.

June 25, 1938, ch. 676, 52 Stat. 1060, codified at 29 U.S.C.A. § 201 et seq.