Child Labor Law regulates employment of workers under 16 years of age. The law protects children by: requiring employment certificates.However, employers of minors under age 18 must obtain and keep on file proof of the minor's age. The Act applies to minors ages 15 and younger. It is illegal to employ a child under 14 except under specific circumstances. All the specificities of each state's minor labor laws can be found in the table below. Learn about when children can start working, work permits, and the restrictions on the hours and types of work children can do. Employers must provide a prospective minor employee with a notice of intention to employ for submission to a school issuing officer. Youth Workers: Employees under the age of 18 who work fewer than 650 hours per year can be paid a lower minimum wage. The Illinois Child Labor Law establishes several separate classes of minors with different hiring eligibility conditions.