Having a part time job can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for children and young people.
Children are "employed" if they help in any trade or occupation carried out for profit.
- It does not matter whether they are paid or not for the work done.
- It makes no difference if they are:
- Helping their own parents in their business;
- working for a relative;
- or working for a major company.
It is illegal for anyone, including parents and guardians, to employ children under the age of 13 in any capacity.
From the age of 13 to the minimum school leaving age, children are allowed to work part-time. The child however must hold an employment/work permit to make the work legal. (To apply for a permit, see: Apply for a permit.)
National Insurance numbers are not needed for children to work part-time, as they are not taxed. It is a misconception that a child can start work when they get a National Insurance Card. However, children must hold an employment permit for any part-time employment until the end of compulsory school age. (Such as the end of Year 11.)
However, there are regulations on the times/days a child can work and the types of work they can do.
Important note: An employer and any person (other than the child) can be liable to prosecution, if they:
- Employ or knowingly allow a child to be employed that contravenes any enactments or local authority byelaws.
- Do not register their school age employees and make sure a Work Permit is in place. (For details, see: Employment Certificate.)
- Employ school age children in a prohibited occupation.
- Allow school age children to work outside the hours permitted by the byelaws.
For more information contact:
- Your local Education Welfare office.
- Visit: Child Employment (GOV.UK).
When a child can work
Important note: Children can only work between 7am and 7pm.
A child must have at least two consecutive weeks without employment during the school holidays.
A child can be stopped from working, if:
- Their school attendance/work suffers.
- They are often late for school.
- Their health suffers.
- Their employment does not comply with byelaws.
13 and 14 year olds
Term time
No more than:
- 12 hours per week.
- 2 hours on a school day, either:
- 1 hour before the school day starts and 1 hour after school ends;
- or 2 hours after school ends.
- 5 hours, with a 1 hour break after 4 hours of continuous work on a Saturday.
- 2 hours on a Sunday.
Holidays
No more than:
- 25 hours in a 7 day week.
- 5 hours in any one day.
- 2 hours on a Sunday.
15 and 16 year olds
Term time
No more than:
- 12 hours a week.
- 2 hours on a school day, either:
- 1 hour before the school day starts and 1 hour after school ends;
- or 2 hours after school ends.
- 8 hours, with a 1 hour break after 4 hours of continuous work on a Saturday.
- 2 hours on a Sunday.
Holidays
No more than:
- 35 hours in a 7 day week.
- 8 hours in any one day.
- 2 hours on a Sunday.
Where a child can work
Permitted for those aged 13 years and over
A child aged 13 can only be employed to do light work in one or more of these areas:
- Agricultural or horticultural.
- Delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material.
- Shop work (includes shelf stacking).
- Hairdressing salons.
- Office work.
- Café or restaurant.
- Riding stables, kennels and catteries
Where a child is not allowed to work at any age
- In a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club.
- To sell or deliver alcohol, except in sealed containers.
- To deliver milk.
- To deliver fuel oils.
- In a commercial kitchen (includes the kitchen of any hotel, cook shop, fried fish shop, eating house or refreshment room).
- To collect or sort refuse.
- In any work that is more than three metres above ground level (outside) or floor level (inside).
- In employment having harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agent.
- To collect money or to sell or canvass door to door.
- In work involving exposure to adult material or in situation which are for this reason otherwise unsuitable for children.
- In telephone sales and canvassing.
- In any slaughterhouse or in that part of any butcher's shop or other premises connected with:
- The killing of livestock;
- butchery;
- or in the preparation of carcasses/meat for sale.
- As an attendant/assistant in a fairground/amusement arcade or other premises used for public amusement by means of:
- Automatic machines;
- games of chance;
- or skill or similar devices.
- In the personal care of residents of any residential care home or nursing home.
For more details contact your local: Child Employment and Entertainment Service.
Rates of pay
The rate of pay is decided by the employer.
What the employer is responsible for
- To make sure that the correct insurance cover is in place.
- The health, safety and welfare of the children that they employ. Also, to do risk assessments and make the findings known to the parent or guardian.
- That the child has suitable clothing and shoes, which includes protective clothing where needed.
- That proper rest breaks are adhered to, at least 1 hours rest after 4 hours of work.
They must also make sure that a child has an employment permit. Also, that the child is employed only in accordance with the details shown on the permit.
Employers are liable to prosecution if they:
- Do not register their school age employees and make sure a work permit is in place.
- Employ school age children in a prohibited occupation.
- Allow school age children to work outside the hours permitted by the byelaws.
If you employ a child of school age with no permit, you contravene child employment regulations. We can take action against you for this.
Employment Certificate (Work Permit)
During a child's first week of work the employer must apply for an employment permit. This is to legally register the child's employment with the local authority in the area that they will work. Note: Not where the child lives or goes to school.
If your application meets all requirements, a permit will be issued. this confirms that the child is registered for work and lists
- Their details;
- the employer's details;
- and the place/hours of work.
The permit will be sent to the child and a copy sent to the employer accordingly.
Apply for a permit
Every child in employment must be in possession of an Employment Certificate (Work Permit).
An application form is available to download:
Please email completed forms to: CEE@Calderdale.gov.uk.
Continuing to work for an employer after work experience ends
A child can continue to work for an employer that they have been on a work experience with, after it ends. in some cases and the child must have an employment permit.
Please note: Some work that can done in a work experience programme is not allowed under Child Employment Law.
Stage, TV and radio productions
Local byelaws and current legislation does not stop a child taking part in a stage, television or similar performances. This is under the provisions of licences granted in accordance with the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 and related regulations. Application forms and advice in respect of a performance may be obtained from your local Education Welfare office.
Please see: Child performance and entertainment licences, for further details relating to work in Stage, television or radio production.
I am over 13 and have been offered a job, what do I need to do?
To comply with the law there are things that you should do. There are also things which your parents and employer must do.
If you want to work, you need a permit. To get a form to apply for one:
- Download the Employment of children application form.
- Ask for one at school;
- Contact your local: Child Employment and Entertainment Service.
If the the employment is allowed, you will be given an Employment Certificate.
At times, proof of medical fitness can be needed. You can get this from your Doctor.
Please note: You must register to work to comply with the law, if you do not it will be illegal.
When can a child can start full-time work after receiving their National Insurance Card?
A child is of compulsory school age until:
- The date they are officially allowed to leave school;
- not on their 16th birthday or when they get their NINo.
The law has fixed the school leaving date as the last Friday in June for all children.
(A sample National Insurance Number (NINo) is: NW 65 67 74 S.)