This bill amends the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law to ensure that all minors are entitled to receive the minimum wage, removing previous exceptions that allowed certain minors to be paid less. Specifically, it mandates that employers pay minors, particularly those aged 16 to 18, the minimum wage and includes them in overtime payment requirements for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. However, the bill clarifies that overtime pay does not apply to minors working at summer camps, conferences, and retreats operated by nonprofit or religious organizations during the summer months. Additionally, it maintains existing exemptions for certain categories of employees, such as bona fide executives, who are not entitled to overtime pay regardless of age.

Furthermore, the bill codifies two specific exemptions to the overtime pay requirements: employees engaged in seasonal amusement occupations and skilled mechanics employed by nonmanufacturing employers in the automotive sector, provided they meet certain payment criteria. The bill also updates the legal language to reflect these changes, ensuring that the provisions of the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law apply to the employment of minors, including the minimum wage and overtime rates established in the law. Overall, the bill aims to enhance wage protections for minors while maintaining certain exemptions for specific employment situations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34:11-56