Legal Update: Legal Q&A - How old does a child have to be to work?

Children can work part-time at the age of 13. It is illegal for a child under the age of 13 to engage in any work. Thirteen- and 14-year-old children may be employed to do light work for up to five hours a day but for no more than 25 hours a week. Fifteen- and 16-year-old children may work up to eight hours a day for a maximum of 35 hours a week. Children involved in performance, including work in television, theatre or modelling, require a performance licence if they work more than three days in six months or where the performance is a paid performance. A child can legally work full-time at any point after the last Friday in June of the academic year when they turn 16. This is because a child is legally required to remain in school through the age of 16. At this point, a child can work up to 40 hours a week, but no more.

Q How much are children entitled to be paid?

A  When a child is “school aged” no minimum wage requirements apply to the child’s labour. Once the child is 16 and out of school they are entitled to a minimum wage of £3.68 an hour. When a child turns 18 they will fall under adult employment laws and regulations. This summer, a new regulation will come into effect that requires young people to be involved in part-time education or training until they are 17.