Employment of Children

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

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EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

Legislation:

The children and young persons act 1933 (as amended by the Education Act 1944)

It is a requirement of the Employment of Children Regulations that all young persons up to, and including the minimum school leaving age, must be registered for employment with the Local Education Authority.

The Education Welfare Service has a statutory duty to regulate, supervise and enforce legislation with respect to all aspects of the employment of children.

These rules apply to all children of compulsory school age, up until the end of year 11. They do not end as soon as the child is 16. The compulsory school leaving date is the last Friday in June.

They apply to all work done for a commercial business, including the parents own business, whether or not the child is paid.

At What Age Can a Young Person be Employed?	No child under the age of 13 can be employed. Only certain types of work are legally permitted employment for 13 year olds.

Permitted Types of Employment for 13 Year Olds	Children aged 13 can only be employed in light work in the following occupations:
	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
	In a cafe or restaurant
	In riding stables
	Domestic work in hotels or other establishments offering accommodation
	Light work is defined as work which is not harmful to the child's safety, health or development and will not adversely affect the child's attendance at school


Employment of Young People Aged 14 Years and Over	Young people aged 14 and over, and still of compulsory school age, can be employed in any 'light work' provided the type of work is not on the list of prohibited employment. 'Light work' is defined as work which does not adversely affect a young person's health, education or well-being.

Prohibited Employment	No young person of compulsory school age can be employed:
	in a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club, except in connection with a performance given entirely by children
	to sell or deliver alcohol
	to deliver milk
	in the collection of fuel and fuel oils
	in a commercial kitchen
	to collect or sort refuse
	in any work which is more than 3 metres above ground/floor level
	in employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
	to collect money or to sell or canvass door to door
	in work involving harmful exposure to adult material or in situation which are, for this reason, unsuitable for children
	in telephone sales
	in any slaughterhouse or in that part of any butcher's shop or other premises connected in the killing of livestock, butchery, or in the preparation of carcasses or meat for sale
	as an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade
	in the personal care of residents in any residential or nursing home
	in street trading

Does the Young Person Require a Work Permit?	All compulsory school age employees must have a work permit issued by the local authority. Employers are responsible for applying for these by forwarding details of the employment to the Child Employment Officer.

Employment Permit Application Procedure	Within one week of employing a young person of compulsory school age, an employer must forward a permit application to the Child Employment Officer with the following details:
	The name, address and date of birth of the young person.
	Details of the school the young person attends.
	A statement of the young person's fitness to work signed by the parent/guardian.
	The employer's name and address.
	The hours and days on which the young person is to be employed, the task involved and the place of employment.
	A copy of an appropriate risk assessment.
	A permit will be issued when we are satisfied the work is lawful and the health, education and well-being of the young person will not be affected.

What are the Permitted Times of Employment?

Young people cannot take time out of school in order to work (except for - work experience arranged by the school, or to take part in entertainment under the conditions of a performance licence). There are limits on the times and number of hours young people can work.

	13 & 14 Year Olds	15 & 16 Year Olds
School days	Between 7am and 7pm For 1 hour before school For a maximum of 2 hours in total	Between 7am and 7pm For 1 hour before school For a maximum of 2 hours in total
Saturdays	Between 7am and 7pm For a maximum of 5 hours	Between 7am and 7pm For a maximum of 8 hours
Sundays	Between 7am and 7pm For a maximum of 2 hours	Between 7am and 7pm For a maximum of 2 hours
Term time	As above for a maximum of 12 hours per week, including weekends	As above for a maximum of 12 hours per week, including weekends
School holidays	For a maximum of 5 hours per day up to a maximum of 25 hours per week (No more than 2 hours on Sundays)	For a maximum of 8 hours per day up to a maximum of 35 hours per week (No more than 2 hours on Sundays)

Young people must not be employed:

For more more than 4 hours without a rest break of at least 1 hour.

Without a break of 2 weeks during school holidays in any year.

When Can a Young Person Start Full Time Employment?

Young people cannot be employed full time until they are no longer of compulsory school age, i.e. the last Friday in June of the academic year in which they reach the age of 16.

Any employer contravening Section 21 of the Children and Young Persons Act (1933) shall be liable to a fine.