Required Certificates of Employment
Depending on the age of the minor you hire, one of two types of certificates of employment must be obtained before work begins.
Minors who are 14 or 15 years of age:
Employers are responsible for procuring a Certificate of Employment (CL-1) from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (“DLIR”) Child Labor Office. Applications for the CL-1 can be obtained online and must be completed and signed by the employer and the minor’s parent/guardian. The application should be filed either in person or by mail and must attach an acceptable “proof of age document” (discussed below). Applications may initially be submitted via fax, but an original copy of the application must subsequently be filed in person or by mail. A valid CL-1 must be obtained before a minor employee may begin work and should be kept on file for all minor employees ages 14 or 15. The CL-1 is employer-specific and must be obtained by the new employer if the minor changes employers and is still 14 or 15 years of age.
Minors who are 16 or 17 years of age:
Minor must obtain a valid Certificate of Age (eCL-3) from the DLIR Child Labor Office before they can begin working. This application can be found online and may be submitted by minor workers before any offer of employment has been obtained. When a minor with a CL-3 is hired, s/he must report to work with the CL-3 form and an approved “proof of age document.” At the time of hire, the employer should verify that the information presented on the Certificate of Age is consistent with that presented in the “proof of age” document. The Certificate of Age number should be recorded in the new hire’s paperwork, and the Certificate of Age and “proof of age” document should be returned to the minor employee. The minor may use the same CL-3 until the age of 18.
Employers should refer to the CL-1 or CL-3 for lists of acceptable "proof of age" documents.
NOTE: A social security card is NOT an acceptable proof of age document.
Restrictions on Work Hours
Legal restrictions on when and how many hours a minor can work vary, depending on the age of the minor.
Minors 14 or 15 years old may not work:
- Before 7:00 am or after 7:00 pm on a school day or the day before a school day;
- Before 6:00 am or after 9:00 pm on a non-school day and the day before a non-school day;
- More than 3 hours per day on a school day or 8 hours on a non-school day;
- More than 18 hours during a school week or 40 hours during a non-school week;
- More than six consecutive days; or
- More than five consecutive hours without a 30-minute lunch or rest period.
The rules for minors who are 16 or 17 years old are much less restrictive. These minors may work during any time period when they are not legally required to attend school or when they are excused by school authorities from attending school.
Hawaii Child Labor Law and Related Administrative Rules
- CL1 – Application for Certificate of Employment (for 14 and 15-year old minors, and minors under 16 in theatrical employment)
- eCL-3 – Online Application for Certificate of Age (for 16 and 17-year old workers)