Age Related

NACAE and our industry support legal and responsible employment of youth. We believe all children should attend school. If teenagers work, their work should not interfere with their education or their safety. NCAE strongly supports agricultural occupational work experience opportunities for youth through approved education and training programs such as Vocational Agriculture, Occupational Work Experience, and others.

General positioning: NCAE opposes employment of children less than 12 years of age in agriculture (except farm-owners children.) Current laws and regulations should be strictly enforced. NCAE supports limited employment opportunity for 12 to 13 year old youth with daily work hour limits, start and stop times, restrictions to non-hazardous work only; including specific protections relative to livestock, machinery, and crop protection products, written parental consent, and assurances that schooling is not disrupted. NCAE supports limited employment opportunity for 14 to 15 year old youth with daily work hour limits and workplace hazard restrictions which can be expanded for those enrolled in approved technical or vocational programs such as FFA in which instruction in the use of power equipment is provided, tested, and certified; in addition to written parental consent, and assurances that schooling is not disrupted. NCAE supports employment of 16 to 18 year old youth in agriculture with parental permission, certified safety training and strict supervision for power equipment operation; and strict adherence to federal and state youth employment laws and regulations as well as educational policies.

We welcome the opportunity to engage in dialogue on the topic of child labor. In return, we expect allegations to be factual and current so that appropriate follow-up can be conducted.

From: NCAE Issue Paper - Children and Youth - May 2010

• Age Related Policy Archives
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