Employment of young people of 16 and under
The Law on Young Person's Employment
The
law restricts the kind of paid work that young people under statutory school leaving age can do, in
terms of hours and the type of part time jobs they can do.
The
legislation is subject
to local bye-laws adopted by Wiltshire & Swindon have identified bye-laws listed below.
Local
Child Employment Officers and Education Welfare Officers will have more details.
Employment
of young people is primarily the responsibility of the local Education Authority
(Wilts
County Council) and the HSE. Kennet Environmental Health has limited input other than enforcing the
Employer's responsibility to carry out a Risk Assessment before employing a young person.
From what age can a young person work ?
Children are permitted
in certain
types of work from age 13.
Children below this age are NOT permitted
to work.
What type of work can children do ?
-
Young people of 13 or older may be employed in light work in the following categories :
-
agricultural or horticultural work
-
delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material
-
shop work including shelf stacking
-
hairdressing salons
-
office work
-
car washing by hand in a private residential setting
-
a cafe or restaurant (but not in a commercial kitchen)
-
riding stables
-
domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation
Young people of 14 or older may only be employed in light work categories other than those listed under prohibited employment below.
Prohibited work
Young people under school-leaving age must not be employed in any of the following :
-
cinemas, theatres, discos, dance halls or night clubs
(other than in connection with performances given entirely by children - even then a special licence will need to be obtained) -
in the sale or delivery of alcohol, except in sealed containers
-
delivery of milk in glass containers
-
delivery of fuel oils
-
in a commercial kitchen
-
collecting or sorting of refuse
-
work which is more than 3 metres above ground or floor level
-
work involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
-
collecting money or selling or canvassing door-to-door
-
telephone sales
-
work involving exposure to adult material or in situations otherwise unsuitable for children
-
slaughterhouses or other premises connected with the killing of livestock, butchery or preparation of carcasses of meat for sale
-
fairgrounds, amusement arcades or other premises used for public amusement by means of automatic machines, games of chance or skill or similar devices
-
the personal care of residents in residential care or nursing homes
-
no child may be employed in any work out of doors unless wearing suitable clothes and shoes
What hours are young people permitted to work ?
On school days
A child may work :
-
between 7am - 8am
-
2 hours after school up to 7pm (or 1 hour if they have also worked in the morning)
-
a maximum of 12 hours per week
-
NOT before the close of school hours on any day they are required to attend school
During school holidays (Mondays to Fridays)
-
Aged 13-14 : up to 5 hours between 7am - 7pm
-
Aged 15-16 : up to 8 hours between 7am - 7pm
-
In both cases the child must have a 1 hour break if working 4 hours or more consecutively
Saturdays
-
Aged 13-14 : up to 5 hours between 7am - 7pm
-
Aged 15-16 : up to 8 hours between 7am - 7pm (with a 1 hour break if working 4 hours or more consecutively)
Sundays
Aged 13 - 16 : up to 2 hours between 7am - 7pm
Maximum hours a young person can work
-
All children : 12 hours per week during term time (Monday to Sunday)
-
Aged 13-14 : 25 hours during school holiday weeks (Sunday to Saturday)
-
Aged 15-16 : 35 hours during school holiday weeks (Sunday to Saturday)
Children must also have at least 2 consecutive weeks break from work per year
If you wish to employ a young person of 16 or under.......
Young people between 13 and 16 need a work permit from the Local Education Authority (Wilts County Council) if they are in paid employment. A young person still requires a work permit until the last Friday in June of school Year 11 even if they have reached 16 years of age prior to this date.
Prospective
employers are responsible for applying for a permit.
Any person who employs a young
person of 16 or under must notify Wilts County Council (using the application form below) giving their
own details and details of the young person, a description of the work and evidence of parental approval.
The form must be signed by:
· The child's
parents/carer
giving consent for their child's employment.
· The head teacher at the child's school
Finally, the employer signs the form to confirm they will abide by the law regarding the child's employment and that they have the appropriate insurance cover.
If
satisfied, the authority will then issue a permit.
Contact
For more advice on permits or restrictions on young person's employment please contact :
Wiltshire
Local Education Team
10 Prince Maurice Court
Hambleton Avenue
Devizes
SN10
2RT
Telephone (01380) 725526