Employment of Young People of School Age

The laws governing Child Employment are there to ensure that young people are not exploited if they have a part-time job whilst still of compulsory school age. 

Young people are of compulsory school age until the last Friday in June in the school year they are 16, and NOT on their 16th birthday or when they receive their National Insurance Number.

Young people may only start part-time work when they are 14 years old although in exceptional circumstances (see below) they may be allowed to work at the age of 13. 

At 13 they may only do jobs from the following list of light work.

• Agricultural or horticultural work
• Delivering newspapers
• Work in a shop
• Work in a hairdressers
• Office work
• Wash cars (not in a commercial garage)
• Work in a café or restaurant
• Work in riding stables
• Undertake domestic work in hotels.         

From the age of 14 they may do work from the above list and other light work provided the jobs are not on the list of prohibited employment shown below. "Light work" is defined as work which is not harmful to the young person's safety, health and development and will not adversely affect his/her attendance or ability to benefit from education.

List of prohibited employment:

While young people are still of compulsory school age they can't: 

• Work in a cinema, theatre, dance hall, disco or night club
• Sell or deliver alcohol
• Work in a petrol station
• Work in a commercial kitchen
• Undertake food preparation
• Collect or sort refuse
• Clean windows or do any job which involves you being more than three metres off the ground
• Do a job which may bring you into contact with harmful chemicals
• Call at people's houses to collect money
• Be exposed to adult material which is considered unsuitable for children
• Work in telephone sales
• Work in a slaughterhouse, abattoir or butcher's shop
• Work in a fairground or amusement arcade
• Work in "personal care" in a residential or nursing home      

Some information to help employers when applying for a work permit:

• Within one week of employing a child the employer must apply for a work permit. Employers may not be properly insured unless they do so.
• Application forms are available from most schools or your local Education Welfare Office or click below to download one. 

Click here for Work Permit Form

• To comply with Health and Safety regulations, the employer must certify that a Risk Assessment has been carried out and more information about Risk Assessments, can be obtained from your local Environmental Health Department.
• The parent or guardian of the young person needs to certify that he/she is fit to undertake the proposed work. Children's Services may, if necessary, require the young person to have a medical examination.
• Employer's own children also need to have a work permit.
• Young people are considered to be employed whether they are paid or unpaid.
• If a young person changes jobs, or changes hours of employment, you need to inform Children's Services as a new permit will need to be issued.
• If a young person stops working for you, please inform the Education Welfare Service.      

And remember, it's your responsibility as an employer to ensure the safety and well-being of young people and so you must ensure that:

• An application for employment has been sent to Children's Services.
• Young employees are not subjected to dangerous or harmful tasks.
• They are not asked to undertake work that is harmful to their health, development or attendance at school and ability to benefit from education.
• A break of one hour is taken where employment lasts for more than 4 consecutive hours.
• A two week holiday from work is granted during the school holidays every year.
• They are suitably dressed and equipped for the job.
• A Risk Assessment has been undertaken and shared with the parent/guardian of the young person.      

Finally... please contact your local Education Welfare Service if you need any further information about employing young people. 

Contact Education Welfare Service