This bill amends the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law to ensure that all working minors are entitled to receive the minimum wage, eliminating previous exceptions that allowed certain minors to be paid less than the minimum wage. Specifically, it mandates that minors aged 16 to 18 must be paid at least the minimum wage and establishes that overtime pay applies to these minors when they work over 40 hours in a week, with certain exceptions for those working at summer camps or similar nonprofit organizations during the summer months. The bill also clarifies that existing exemptions for specific categories of employees, such as bona fide executives, remain unchanged.

Additionally, the bill codifies two exemptions to the overtime pay requirements: one for employees engaged in seasonal amusement occupations and another for skilled mechanics employed by nonmanufacturing employers in the automotive sector, provided they meet specific payment criteria. The legislation aims to provide clearer protections for minors in the workforce while maintaining certain exemptions that are already established in current law. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance wage protections for minors and ensure fair compensation in various employment scenarios.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34:11-56