Young girl with cap in working environment

Young People aged 13 - 16 should have a permit if they are in part time work. 

This rule applies until a young person reaches school leaving age.  This is the last Friday in June in the school year in which the young person reaches the age of 16.

 

Child Employment Permits are issued based on the area where the young person is working. 

 

Employers have a legal duty to inform the local authority if they employ a young person.

Parents/Carers must consent to their child working.

 

How to get a permit.

There are four ways in which you can get an  employment permit application form:

  •          From the prospective employer.

Employers are responsible for ensuring that children of compulsory school age are registered with the local authority and have a work permit.

  •           From your school.

Your school will be asked to give their views on how your education might be affected by you doing some part-time work.

or you can print a form from the following link:

Application Form for a Child Employment Permit  (If you require this in another formation please contact cmes@bathnes.gov.uk )

Remember - All employment, which is not registered and for which no employment permit has been issued is illegal.

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 activities 

Information leaflet:

A Guide to Child Employment - Information for Young People of School Age 

Application Form:     

Application Form for a Child Employment Permit 

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 (but must not enter into a commercial kitchen)
  • 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;
  • is not likely to be harmful to the safety, health or development of children; and
  • 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 types of employment are prohibited?

Bath and North East Somerset Byelaws.  

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.

The employment of young people is regulated by:

Children & Young Person Act 1933 & 1963, the Children (protection at Work) Regulations 1988 and Bath & North East Somerset Bye-laws on the Employment of Children 1998.

Failure to comply with the legislation can lead to an employer being prosecuted and on conviction be fined up to £1000.

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