61 Pa.C.S. § 1790 – Employment of inmates

(a) General rule.— An inmate committed to a joint industrial farm and workhouse under the provisions of this subchapter, unless disqualified by sickness or otherwise, shall be kept at some useful employment as may be suited to the inmate's age and capacity and as may be most profitable to the joint industrial farm and workhouse and tend to promote the best interest of the inmate. If an inmate refuses to perform the work assigned to the inmate or is guilty of other acts of insubordination, the chief administrator shall punish the inmate in such manner as the rules and regulations provided for may prescribe. The chief administrator shall keep a record of and report to the advisory board all such offenses and punishments.
(b) Pay schedule and inmate accounts.— All inmates shall receive compensation for their work.
1. (1) Those inmates employed on institutional maintenance and nonproductive labor shall receive not more than 20¢ per day and not less than 10¢ per day.
2. (2) Those inmates employed on productive work shall receive not more than 50¢ per day and not less than 20¢ per day.
3. (3) The earnings of an inmate shall be credited to the inmate's account, and disbursements made on approval of the chief administrator of the institution and the written order of the inmate, except, when an inmate is committed for nonsupport, the court which sentenced the prisoner shall order payment of the earnings. At time of release or discharge, the inmate shall receive all moneys remaining in the inmate's account and give receipt for the same.