Minors employed in the delivery of newspapers to consumers are exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor provisions, as well as the wage and hours provisions. This exemption applies to carriers engaged in making deliveries to the homes of subscribers or other consumers of newspapers (including shopping news). It also includes employees engaged in the street sale or delivery of newspapers to the consumer. However, employees engaged in hauling newspapers to drop stations, distributing centers, and newsstands are not exempted because they do not deliver to the consumer.
Many states regulate minors employed as newspaper carriers more strictly than the FLSA does. Please consult your state department of labor for more specific information.
Webpages on this Topic
Wages and Hours Provisions for Newspaper Deliverers
Regulations on minors working in newspaper delivery.
elaws Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Advisor - Child Labor Rules
This Advisor answers questions about workers and businesses that are subject to the FLSA's child labor rules.
State Labor Offices/State Laws
Information on state minimum wage rates and other state child labor topics.
State Departments of Labor Websites
Links to state departments of labor websites and contact information for each department.
Regulations on this Topic
29 CFR §570.124 - Wages and Hours Provisions for Newspaper Deliverers