Legal Q&A: Employment of young people

Q: I am an employer and have received applications for work from young people under the age of 18 and some under 16. What are the laws surrounding employment for young people?

A: It is unlawful for children under the age of 13 to be employed, although they can take part in paid sport and entertainment with permission from their local authority. Children of 13 years can be employed to do “light work” such as delivering newspapers. Children of 14 to 16 years can work in a wider range of jobs, but there are still some that are prohibited.

There are also regulations on the number of hours children can work. During term time, 14-year-olds can work for a maximum of two hours on weekdays and Sundays and up to five hours on Saturdays. During school holidays, they can work for up to five hours on weekdays and Saturdays, but for no more than two hours on a Sunday. It is also not lawful for 14-year-olds to work before 7am or after 7pm on any day. These hours are the same for 15- and 16-years-olds still at school, but young people in this age group are permitted to work up to eight hours a day ?on Saturdays and during holidays.

Young people of school leaving age (16 years) are classed as “young workers” and have less restrictions. Young workers are ?not allowed to work for more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week unless this is necessary for continuity of a service and there is no adult who can do the work and the extended hours do not negatively impact the training of the young person.