With the summer holidays approaching, and school leavers wondering what to do next, finding a job might be a suitable next step. Knowing what children and young people under the age of 18 are allowed to do — and, perhaps more pertinently for them, how much they can be paid — is important for employers to ensure they don't break the law.
How old does a child have to be to start work?
In the UK, children can start working part-time when they are 13 or 14, depending on local council decisions. Children younger than 13 are not allowed to undertake any form of employment.
Children can only start full-time work once they've reached the minimum school leaving age. In England and Wales, this is until the last Friday in June in the school year in which they reach the age of 16 — meaning they can leave school on the last Friday in June if they turn 16 by the end of the summer holidays. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it depends on when their 16th birthday is.
In most areas employing a child of school age (13-16) will require a child employment permit (except for school-arranged work experience). Without a permit, the employer may not be insured against accidents involving the child.
Working hours for employees under 18
During term time, children aged 16 and under can only work for two hours on school days and Sundays, with a limit on Saturdays of up to five hours for 14-year-olds and eight hours for 15 and 16 year-olds.
They can only work between 7am and 7pm, for no more than one hour before school, and not during school hours. For every four hours of work, they must take a break of at least one hour.
School holidays allow more hours of work — 25 for 14-year-olds, including only five per weekday and Saturday, and 35 hours for 15-16-year-olds, including up to eight per weekday and Saturday. Sundays remain limited to two hours for all employees aged 16 and under.
Children must also have a two-week break from work during school holidays each year.
From the ages of 16-18 young people can be in full-time work for no more than eight hours a day up to 40 hours per week but this must also be alongside part-time education or training. Alternatively, they must either be in full-time education or apprenticeship,
Places and types of work for young people
Depending on the age of the child, there are several restrictions to what they can do, and local councils provide their own rules and restrictions.
However, 'light work' is generally considered acceptable for children. 'Light work' is activity that will not harm a child' heath, safety or development, and won't impact their school attendance or the experience they gain during employment.
