The Children Missing Education Service
Child Employment
Why is child employment regulated by law?
The law is there to protect children who work so that they
are:
- safe from injury
- protected from exploitation
- benefiting fully from education
- having enough spare time to rest & enjoy social
acticvities.
What types of employment are permitted?
Any child, who assists in a trade or occupation for profit, even
if s/he is not paid, is deemed to be employed.
Babysitting or offering to wash a car for charity would not
amount to employment.
Helping out a local tradesperson by delivering leaflets would
amount to employment, as would helping out in the family shop.
A child aged 13 and above may be employed
in light work only, in one or more of the following
specified categories:-
- Agricultural or horticultural work
- Delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material,
and collecting payment for same, subject to the provisions of
byelaw 3(I)
- Shop work, including shelf stacking
- Hairdressing salons
- Office work
- Car washing by hand in a private residential setting
- In a café or restaurant
- In riding stables
- Domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering
accommodation
What is 'light work'?
'The law defines light work as work which, on account of the
inherent nature of the tasks which it involves and the particular
conditions under which they are performed;
a) is not likely to be
harmful to the safety, health or development of children; and
b) is not such as to be
harmful to their attendance at school or to their participation in
work experience or their capacity to benefit from the
instruction received or the experience gained.
What hours can a child work?
At 13 and 14 years of age
On schooldays this age group can work no more than a
total of 2 hours in one day during the following
periods:
- In the morning between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
- In the evening between close of school and 7 p.m.
- No child of any age may work more than 12 hours per week during
term time.
- On Saturdays this age group can work 5 hours
between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- On Sundays this age group can only work for 2
hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- School Holidays this age group can work 5 hours a
day on any weekday (except Sunday) between 7 a.m. and 7
p.m.
Totals worked each week MUST NOT EXCEED 25 HOURS and must
include at least 2 consecutive weeks without employment per
year.
At 15 and 16 years of age
On schooldays this age group can work no more than a
total of 2 hours in one day during the following
periods:
- In the morning between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
- In the evening between close of school and 7 p.m.
- No child of any age may work more than 12 hours per week during
term time.
- On Saturdays this age group can work 8 hours between 7
a.m. and 7 p.m.
- On Sundays this age group can only work for 2
hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- School Holidays this age group can work 8 hours a
day on any weekday (except Sunday) between 7 a.m. and 7
p.m.
Totals worked each week MUST NOT EXCEED 35 HOURS and must
include at least 2 consecutive weeks without employment per
year.
No child of any age may work more than 4 hours in any day
without a rest break of 1 hour.
How to get a permit
There are three ways in which you can get an employment
permit application form:
1. From the prospective employer.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that children of
compulsory school age are registered with the LEA and have a work
permit.
2. From your school.
Your school wil be asked to give their views on how your
education might be affected by you doing some part-time work.
3. From the The Hollies - Midsomer Norton or by
contacting the Children Missing Education Service.
Remember - all employment, which is not registered and for
which no employment permit has been issued is illegal.
