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USDOLRev. 09-2016

Official form guide

Form WH-46: Employer's Application for Authority to Employ Homeworkers

Application for a certificate authorizing the employment of industrial homeworkers in certain industries regulated under FLSA, such as women's apparel, gloves, and handkerchiefs.

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Form Overview

DOL Form WH-46 - Employer's Application for Authority to Employ Homeworkers

Application for a certificate authorizing the employment of industrial homeworkers in certain industries regulated under FLSA, such as women's apparel, gloves, and handkerchiefs.

A Department of Labor certificate authorizing an employer to employ homeworkers in industries where industrial homework is otherwise prohibited.

Risk Radar

Scan points
  • 1Operating without a certificate — heavy penalties apply for unauthorized homework employment.
  • 2Using homeworkers in a prohibited industry — some industries have absolute prohibitions regardless of certificates.

Plain English

Apply for this certificate if you want to employ workers who will do certain regulated manufacturing work (like sewing or knitting) from their homes.

Submission Date

  • Filing date: Apply before hiring any homeworkers. Certificates are required and must be renewed annually.
  • Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
  • Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.

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Glossary Terms

employlabor

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Field map

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6 fields

Employer

3 items

Employer Name

Business name.

Requiredtext
Principal Office Address

Business headquarters address.

Requiredtext
Nature of Business

Type of products manufactured.

Requiredtext

Homeworkers

2 items

Type of Work to be Done at Home

Description of the work homeworkers will perform.

Requiredtext
Number of Homeworkers

Approximate number of proposed homeworkers.

Requiredtext

Signature

1 items

Employer Signature

Authorized representative signature.

Requiredsignature

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Quick Facts

Employers in regulated industries who want to hire workers to perform work at the workers' homes.
A Department of Labor certificate authorizing an employer to employ homeworkers in industries where industrial homework is otherwise prohibited.
Apply before hiring any homeworkers. Certificates are required and must be renewed annually.
Submit to the Wage and Hour Division district office for your area.
FLSA restricts industrial homework in certain industries to prevent exploitation and protect workers who work without direct supervision.
Complete the application describing your business, the type of work, and compliance mechanisms. WHD will review and conduct an investigation.

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Copyright & Licensing - US Government Forms

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Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
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