Almost all minors under the age of 18 are subject to California's child labor protections. Minors are restricted to certain types of work, for example, non-hazardous jobs.Minors must be paid adult minimum wages in California, and your work location city might have specific requirements for minimum paid wages. All minors who have not graduated high school or been awarded a certificate of proficiency, must have a valid work permit. Children ages 12 and 13 can only work on days when there is no school. The law allows them to work up to eight hours a day and no more than 40 hours a week. California's child labor laws regulate the circumstances under which minors (persons under the age of 18) can work in the state. All minors under the age of 18 must have a permit to work in the State of California. However, employers of any minor must obtain and keep on record proof of the child's age. The general rule is that the legal working age in California is 14-years-old, but anybody under the age of 18 must have a work permit.