"The YouthRules! team will ensure that the education of our young workers is their first priority," said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. "We will all work together to make sure that young workers have safe and rewarding work experiences."
Partners in the program include national employer groups, trade associations, advocacy groups and state and federal government agencies. Local employer members of the partner organizations attended the event with some of their young employees from the area.
YouthRules! partners will work with the Labor Department to develop a variety of tools to educate employers, parents and young workers such as printed materials, public seminars and workshops, stories in membership outreach publications and public service announcements or media programs.
The Labor Department launched a Web site in May, www.youthrules.dol.gov, offers teens, parents, educators and employers information about the hours young people can work, the jobs they can do and how to ensure safe work experiences.
America's young people can use the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Americas Job Bank (www.ajb.org) to search for local job opportunities. ETA also encourages young workers to visit Youth Corner at www.doleta.gov, to learn more about the current job market, how to best apply for a job and even get tips for writing a resume.
YouthRules! partners include the Center for Workforce Preparation (a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Child Labor Coalition, the Food Marketing Institute, the Hotel Employee and Restaurant Employees International Union, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Interstate Labor Standards Association, the International Mass Retail Association, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Theater Owners, the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the National League of Cities, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation and the Society for Human Resource Management.