Working Under Sixteen
Section 50-6-3 — no more than three hours on a school day, eighteen in a school week
No child under fourteen is employed at a gainful occupation unless the Child Labor Act provides otherwise, and a child of fourteen or fifteen works only with a work permit procured and filed.
Who handles this in New Mexico: Pegasus Legal Services for Children; and legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the New Mexico directory.
| A worker fourteen or fifteen | Unless the act provides otherwise |
|---|---|
| A worker fourteen or fifteenWhen school is not in session | Unless the act provides otherwiseNo more than forty hours a week or eight hours a day |
| A worker fourteen or fifteenSchool days | Unless the act provides otherwiseNo more than three hours a day |
| A worker fourteen or fifteenSchool weeks | Unless the act provides otherwiseNo more than eighteen hours a week |
| A worker fourteen or fifteenDuring the school year | Unless the act provides otherwiseNot before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. |
| A worker fourteen or fifteenOutside the school year | Unless the act provides otherwiseNot before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. |
| A worker fourteen or fifteenSchool hours | Unless the act provides otherwiseNot at all, except work experience and career exploration programs |
Sources for this section (3)
- NMSA 1978, § 50-6-1 — Children under fourteen; employment prohibited
- NMSA 1978, § 50-6-2 — Work permit for children fourteen to sixteen
- NMSA 1978, § 50-6-3 — Maximum hours for children fourteen to sixteen
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of November 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Mexico attorney.