Almost all minors under the age of 18 are subject to California and federal child labor protections. "Minor" means any person under the age of 18 years who is required to attend school under the provisions of the Education Code, and also includes children under age six.
In addition, a child workers' immigration status is not relevant to the issue of whether his or her employer violated the law or to what remedies are available to the worker.
High school graduates under the age of 18, who are not subject to the compulsory education laws, are entirely excluded from permit requirements, work hour restrictions, and all occupational prohibitions. However, under federal regulation high school graduates may not be employed in an occupation prohibited to children under 18 unless they also have completed a bona fide course of training in that occupation.
"Dropouts" still are subject to California's compulsory education laws, and thus are subject to all state child labor requirements. Emancipated minors are subject to all of California's child labor laws, except that they may apply for a work permit without their parents' permission.