These days teenager have a lot of demands – if it’s not the latest fashion trend, it’s a mobile phone, or an iPad, or something equally techie and expensive.

 

While these purchases may be feasible for birthday and Christmas gifts, it doesn’t mean that the demands stop in between – but when you have bills to pay, and you’re already trying to stretch your income because of the rising cost of living, you may have already started thinking about getting your children to earn some money.

What does the law say about children working?

Until children reach the Mandatory School Leaving Age (MSLA), they can only work a certain number of hours per week and only do certain jobs.

Children have to be in school until the last Friday in June in the academic year of their 16th birthday – in other words, they have to finish the school year in year 11 by law. After this they have reached the MSLA and they can apply for their National Insurance Number and work full time.

Can children work part time before they reach 16 years?

The youngest age your child can work part time is 13 years old, unless they are involved in TV, theatre, modelling or similar activities.

If a child is offered work in these areas, they will need to get a performance licence from your the local council, which will contact the headteacher of your child’s school to ensure that the child’s education will not suffer, should that licence be granted.

If your child takes part in a performance – which an include TV, film, theatre, sporting activities or modelling – they must be chaperoned. Chaperones are licensed by the local authority.

Restrictions on child employment

Children may not work:

• without an employment permit issued by the education department of the local council, if this is required by local byelaws in any industrial setting such as a factory or industrial site:

– during school hours

– before 7am or after 7pm

– for more than one hour before school (children can only work before school if local byelaws allow it)

– for more than four hours without taking a break of at least one hour

– in any occupation prohibited by local byelaws or other legislation – examples include pubs and betting shops

– in any work that may be harmful to their health, wellbeing or education

– without having a two-week break from any work during the school holidays in each calendar year

The rules on children working during term time

• Children can work a maximum of 12 hours per week during the school term. This includes:

– a maximum of two hours on school days and Sundays

– a maximum of five hours on Saturdays for 13 to 14  year olds, or eight hours for 15 to 16 year olds

Working during the school holidays

During school holidays 13 to 14 year olds can work for a maximum of 25 hours per week. This includes:

– a maximum of five hours on weekdays and Saturdays

– a maximum of two hours on Sunday

During school holidays 15 to 16 year olds may work

– a maximum of 35 hours per week. This includes:

– a maximum of eight hours on weekdays and Saturdays

– a maximum of two hours on Sunday

Local byelaws list the jobs that 13 year olds can do. No 13-year-old child can work in a job that doesn’t appear on the list.

Local byelaws may place further restrictions on the hours and conditions of work and the nature of employment. For help and advice or to apply for a work permit speak to your local council’s education department.