Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XXI Chapter 149
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 60 (2026)

Children under sixteen in general; school hours; night work; plays or musical comedies; fashion shows; hospitals

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 60. No person shall employ a child under sixteen years of age, or permit him to work in, about or in connection with any factory, workshop, manufacturing or mechanical establishment at any time.

Except as provided in sections sixty-nine and eighty-six, no person shall employ a child under sixteen years of age, or permit him to work in, about or in connection with any mercantile establishment, barber shop, bootblack stand or establishment, stable, elsewhere than on a farm, garage, brick or lumber yard, telephone exchange, telegraph or messenger office, place of amusement, or in the construction or repair of buildings, or in any radio broadcasting station except as talent. Except as provided in sections sixty-nine and eighty-six, no such child shall be employed at work performed for wage or other compensation, to whomever payable, during the hours when public schools are in session, nor, except as provided in section sixty-nine, and except that such child may be employed as a golf caddie during daylight hours, shall he be employed at work before half past six o'clock in the morning or after six o'clock in the evening.

This section and section eighty-six shall not be deemed to prohibit children under sixteen from taking part on the stage for a limited period in a play or musical comedy in a theatre wherein not more than two performances are given in any one day and not more than eight performances are given in any one week if the attorney general, after being satisfied that the supervision of such children is adequate, that their living conditions are healthful, and that their education is not neglected, gives his written consent to such taking part.

This section shall not prevent participation of a child under fifteen years of age in a fashion show, provided such child is accompanied by either one of his parents.

This section and section eighty-six shall not be deemed to prohibit children fourteen to sixteen years of age from voluntarily performing services in a nonprofit hospital after regular school hours, and before eight o'clock post meridian, nor shall this section and section eighty-six be deemed to prohibit children thirteen years of age from voluntarily performing services in a nonprofit hospital after regular school hours, and before half past five o'clock post meridian.

Children between the ages of thirteen and sixteen years who voluntarily perform services in a nonprofit hospital shall, as a condition of providing such service, be provided with an orientation by said hospital and be supervised while providing services which are performed voluntarily.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1965–2000 · leading case: Morris's Case, 238 N.E.2d 35 (Mass. 1968).
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Morris's Case, 238 N.E.2d 35 (Mass. 1968). · cites it 4× “The claimant *422 also alleges that his son’s injury and death occurred while he was being employed in violation of G. L. c. 149, § 60, and that all compensation should be doubled as provided in G.”
Commonwealth v. Montalvo, 735 N.E.2d 391 (Mass. App. Ct. 2000). “94C, § 321, selling drug paraphernalia to a person under age eighteen; G. L. c. 149, § 60, limitations on employment of children under sixteen; G.”
Garnhum's Case, 209 N.E.2d 183 (Mass. 1965). “The decree recited that the employee at-the time of the injury was a minor; that the employer knew it; that the employment was in violation of G. L. c. 149, §§ 60, 89; and that this constituted serious and wilful misconduct under G.”
Hutton v. Cape Foods, Inc., 738 F. Supp. 38 (D. Mass. 1990). “Hutton, who was fourteen years old at the time, also alleges that Cape Foods hired him without an employment permit for a minor in violation of Mass.Gen.L. ch. 149, §§ 60, 86. Following the injury, Hutton filed for Workers’ Compensation benefits with the Department of Industrial…”
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