At School and working?

Do you have a spare time job to earn a few quid, when you're not slaving over the latest pile of homework? Many of us do, but did you know that there are all sorts of legal restrictions on employing young people, designed to protect us from unscrupulous employers and hazardous jobs?

Any business employing someone of school age is required to obtain a work permit from the County Council which places restrictions on the hours that can be worked and requires a health and safety risk assessment to be carried out by the employer and copied to your parents or guardian.

The County Council issues an employment card to the young person, with copies sent to the parent or guardian, the employer and the child's school. A work permit can be withdrawn if the county council is concerned about a young persons welfare or their school attendance.

Permitted hours

• No one under 13 is allowed to work at all.
• On school days you can work a total of 2 hours either between 7.00 am and 8.00 am or after school and before 7.00 pm. 
• On Saturdays you can work for 5 hours between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm, or if you are 15 or over up to 8 hours, but you must take a one hour break after 4 hours work. 
• On Sundays the limit is 2 hours again between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm.
• During school holidays you are allowed to work:
  
  Age 13/14  -  25 hours per week, no more than 5 hours per day.
  Age 15+    -  35 hours per week.
  
  In both cases between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm.

Prohibited work

Young people aged 13-16 and still of compulsory school age cannot:

• Sell alcohol or work on licensed premises.
• Sell cigarettes or tobacco.
• Work in a billiard or games club, amusement arcade or fairground.
• Work in a betting shop.
• Work in any occupation where they would be exposed to dangerous or harmful substances.
• Work in a slaughterhouse or fish curers.
• Work in any occupation where lifting, moving or carrying involves heavy strain.
• Operate any dangerous machinery.
• Clean windows more than 10 feet/3 m above ground level.
• Deliver milk or collect money.
• Work in an industrial undertaking (for example,factory work).
• Work in a commercial kitchen.

Permitted workplaces

Young people under 15 can be employed in any of the following:

• Newspaper delivery.
• Shop work.
• Hairdressing salon.
• Riding stables.
• Café or restaurant (light work).
• Agriculture (light work).
• Car washing by hand in residential area.
• Domestic work in establishments offering accommodation, for example, hotels.

Risk assessment

Before employing a child an employer must provide a parent of the child with comprehensive and relevant information on

• The risks to his or her health and safety identified by a risk assessment.
• The preventive and protective measures he has identified to ensure the child's health and safety while at work.

More information

For information on health and safety issues visit the Young Worker website (external link).

For more information on children at work visit the Trades Union Congress website (external link)

Many young people are working without a permit.  To check if your employer has a permit or for more information about work you can and cannot do contact Social Services on 0845 345 9122.

Minimum wage

The minimum wage is a legal right which covers almost all workers above compulsory school leaving age.  There are different minimum wage rates for different groups of workers.

More information is available from the Government's National Minimum Wage website (external link).