This New Jersey bill establishes a three-year "Summer Earn and Learn Pilot Program" to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss. It provides eligible students (NJ residents in good academic standing, aged to work) with paid summer employment opportunities alongside supplemental learning support (at least 3 hours/day, 5 days/week). The program uses federal pandemic relief funds (CARES, ARP, etc.) to pay students a stipend at or above minimum wage. Participating schools must submit plans detailing learning content and employer partnerships, with the state coordinating with labor agencies to create a public list of approved employers.
S 358 increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 by mandating life imprisonment without parole for all offenses, including both sexual exploitation and forced labor. Currently, trafficking children for sex carries a life sentence without parole, but this bill expands that requirement to cover all forms of child trafficking. The bill also requires a $25,000 fine for offenders, with funds directed to a survivor assistance fund, and mandates restitution to victims based on labor value. This directly affects traffickers who exploit children, regardless of whether the trafficking involves sexual activity or labor.
This bill requires employers to pay minors (under age 18) the state minimum wage and overtime pay (1.5x regular rate) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, directly affecting minor workers in most non-exempt jobs. It establishes a minimum wage schedule that increases annually (with specific rates for 2019-2028) and formalizes existing exemptions to overtime requirements, such as for farm labor, certain seasonal work, and employees in executive roles. Key provisions include mandatory overtime pay for minors (except in exempted categories like agricultural work or specific professional roles) and maintaining minimum wage rates for small employers and seasonal workers. The bill does not change overtime exemptions for adult workers but explicitly extends overtime protections to minors in covered positions.
This bill prohibits New Jersey employers from paying subminimum wages to workers based on age, disability, injury, or status as an apprentice, learner, or student. It eliminates the special permit system previously allowing employers to pay below the state minimum wage through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). The law directly affects workers with disabilities, students, apprentices, and others who were previously eligible for subminimum wages under these special permits. Employers must now pay all covered workers the full state minimum wage, ending the practice of authorizing lower pay through DOLWD licenses. The bill revises existing statutes to remove provisions that permitted this exception.
This bill, titled "Farm Labor Equality Act" (S 1075), actually revises child labor laws in New Jersey, not farm labor standards. It raises the minimum age for agricultural work from 12 to 14 years after December 31, 2024, and limits minors under 18 to 10 hours per day in agriculture until 2025 (after which they follow standard minor labor rules). It requires minors aged 11-17 to register with the Department of Labor for work authorization, including proof of school status, and sets strict hour limits (e.g., max 40 hours/week for newspaper carriers). The bill directly affects minors under 18 working in agriculture or as newspaper carriers, and their employers.
New Jersey's S 1831 establishes a statewide youth apprenticeship program for students aged 16-21, directly affecting high school students (particularly 11th and 12th graders), employers, and low-income apprentices. The bill creates career-connected high school pathways, combines paid on-the-job training with community college dual enrollment, and prioritizes high-demand sectors like healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and green jobs. It appropriates $25 million annually starting in FY2026 to fund the program, including tax credits of up to $5,000 per apprentice for employers who pay at least 60% of journeyperson wages and meet diversity and reporting requirements. The program requires annual reporting on participation demographics, completion rates, and state savings from reduced reliance on student aid, while prohibiting duplication of existing apprenticeship programs.
