In Short
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Children (typically from age 13) may do part-time work, but full-time work is only allowed once they reach school-leaving age.
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Strict limits apply on hours, times of day, rest breaks, and types of work (some roles and workplaces are off-limits).
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Local authority permits or licences may be required, and you must keep records and protect health, safety and education.
Tips for Businesses
Check your local council’s rules on child employment permits and by-laws. Classify tasks as “light work” suited to age. Keep clear records of hours and breaks. Do not allow work that could harm education, health or safety. Always verify licensing needs for roles like performance, modelling or entertainment.
Table of Contents
As an employer, you may employ children to work for you. If you decide to do this, you must be aware that some different rules apply to child employment, which you must abide by. You have a responsibility to ensure that the children who work for you are kept safe and that the work they are carrying out is suitable for them in terms of their age and what they can cope with. If there are any risks concerning the work they carry out for you, you must inform their parents or carers. This article will explain the rules for children working in England and Wales.
Are Children Allowed to Work?
Children aged 14 years or older can carry out part-time work. In some instances, children can work part-time from the age of 13. However, this depends on the laws and regulations in your local council area.
Children under 14 may work in industries such as television, theatre, or modelling. However, they may require a performance licence to perform such work, and the event organisers must apply to the child’s local council to obtain the licence. There is also a supervision requirement (to be approved by the council) if the child is carrying out this work without their parent or school teacher present.
School leaving age is currently set at 16 years old, and this age must be attained before the end of the summer school holidays (in England and Wales). However, to be allowed to work full-time, children of this age must also be in part-time education or training until they turn 18. Once they turn 18, the rights and rules applied to adult employment apply.
Rules Restricting Children Working
Whilst children are allowed to work depending on their age, there are many rules restricting when and where they can work. This is to ensure that they can focus on and finish their education.
Notably, children cannot work:
- in factories or industrial sites;
- somewhere which may be detrimental to their health, well-being or their education; or
- without a local authority employment permit, where local bylaws require them to have one to work.
There are also rules in place regarding the hours of work and rest times. Children must not work:
- during school hours;
- before 7 am;
- after 7 pm;
- before school for over one hour unless permitted by local by-laws;
- for over 4 hours before having a minimum one hour break; and
- where they have not had two weeks off work during the school holidays per calendar year.
Understanding Work Regulations for School-Age Children in the UK
In the United Kingdom, strict regulations govern the employment of school-age children to ensure their education and well-being are not compromised. These rules vary depending on whether it’s term time or school holidays.
Term Time Regulations
During the academic term, children’s working hours are limited to protect their studies:
- A weekly maximum of 12 hours of work is permitted.
- On school days and Sundays, children can work up to 2 hours.
- Saturdays allow for more work:
- 14-year-olds can work up to 5 hours; and
- 15 to 16-year-olds can work up to 8 hours.
School Holiday Rules
The regulations are slightly relaxed during school holidays, but still maintain important safeguards:
For 14-year-olds:
- a weekly cap of 25 working hours is enforced;
- Weekdays and Saturdays: Maximum 5 hours per day; and
- Sundays: Maximum 2 hours.
For 15 to 16-year-olds:
- the weekly limit increases to 35 hours;
- Weekdays and Saturdays: Up to 8 hours per day; and
- Sundays: Maximum 2 hours.
These regulations aim to strike a balance between allowing young people to gain work experience and ensuring their education and leisure time are not unduly affected. Parents, employers, and young workers should familiarise themselves with these rules to ensure compliance and protect the well-being of school-age employees.
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Local Regulations on Youth Employment: Understanding the Restrictions
While national laws provide a framework for youth employment, it’s crucial to be aware that local authorities often have additional rules in place. These local bylaws can significantly impact the types of work children are permitted to undertake and the conditions under which they can work.
Prohibited Jobs for Children
Each local council maintains a list of jobs that are off-limits to children below the minimum school-leaving age. This list serves as a crucial safeguard, ensuring that young people are not exposed to potentially harmful or inappropriate work environments. If a particular job appears on this list, it is strictly prohibited for children under the specified age to engage in that type of work.
Children aged 16 or 17 years old must:
- not work more than 40 hours per week;
- not work more than 8 hours per day;
- have 12 hours of rest in any 24 hours of working;
- have 48 hours of rest in a block per week, and where business does not allow this, they must have a minimum of 36 hours, with 12 hours taken as near as possible after this;
- not work before 7 am or after 10 pm; or
- not work during the time they should be in education.
There are times when you may ask a 16 or 17-year-old to work above their weekly or daily maximum. However, you can only request your 16 or 17-year-old staff to work if:
- you cannot get someone 18 years or older to do so;
- the work will not affect their education; and
- it is due to a sudden need for workers.
Restrictions Relating to Industry-Specific Work
As mentioned, there are restrictions on working hours for children in the workforce. However, some industries allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work until midnight or to start work at 4 am. Importantly, you can only employ children to do this work if it will not have a detrimental effect on their training or education. Likewise, first ensure that no adults are available to carry out the work. The types of work include:
- advertising;
- agriculture;
- bakery;
- catering, including hotels, pubs and restaurants;
- hospital or similar work;
- newspaper delivery and post; and
- retail.
Paying Children to Work
If you employ children under the age of 16 in your workforce, you have no obligations to pay the National Minimum Wage. This is because children under 16 are not required to pay National Insurance. So, unless the total income you pay is over the Personal Allowance, you do not need to include them in your payroll.
However, if you employ children aged 16 or 17, you must pay them at least £7.55 per hour. You should also include their pay in your running payroll. You cannot pay any employee, regardless of their age, over £96 per week if you are not a registered employer operating pay-as-you-earn (PAYE).
Keeping Records of Children’s Work
Employers must keep certain records for two years if they have children working for them. These are for 16-17-year-olds only. These records concern:
- the hours worked to ensure that children are not working above the maximum allowed;
- any night work to ensure they are not working hours that are not permitted; and
- where children are involved in night work, the health assessments that you carry out during employment.
Key Takeaways
If you decide to have children while working at your workplace, be aware of the rules regarding their employment. Importantly, be mindful that children must complete their education before fully joining the workforce. Rules governing child employment specify that children are only allowed to work a certain number of hours per week. Likewise, the hours they are allowed to work per day may vary depending on the day or week. Children’s permitted working hours also change between term time and holiday time, and they differ depending on the child’s age. There are also rules governing the types of work a child can perform.
If you need help with the rules on children working in England and Wales, our experienced employment lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents for a low monthly fee. So call us today on 0808 258 4780 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no minimum amount you should pay a child working for you. However, once a child reaches the age of 16, you must pay them a minimum of about £7.55 per hour, in accordance with the National Minimum Wage.
Yes, children are prohibited from working in factories, industrial sites, or any environment that could harm their health, well-being, or education. Additionally, local authorities often maintain lists of specific jobs that are off-limits for children. Employers must check these local restrictions before hiring child workers.
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