All 14 and 15 year old workers in Virginia are required to obtain an Employment Certificate (Work Permit) prior to performing any work. Children under the age of 16 may not be employed in any gainful occupation during school hours.Employment Certificate. Generally, no child under 14 years of age may be employed in any gainful occupation. No child under 16 years of age may be employed during school hours. However, employers of minors under age 18 must obtain and keep on file proof of the minor's age. An employee can take up to eight weeks of full-pay leave within six months after the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child under the age of 18. In Virginia, child labor laws generally prohibit anyone under 14 years old from working and require work permits for children under 16. As you might expect, state and federal labor regulations regarding minors have increased since our first years in the job market. Virginia law requires students aged 14 and 15 to obtain a work permit prior to beginning a job.