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A Guide to Child Employment

In order for a child of compulsory school age to work lawfully, they must have a work permit.
 
A young person is of compulsory school age until the last Friday in June in the school year in which they reach the age of 16 years.
 
In relation to the employment of children, there are three different types of days. These are:
  1. Days when pupils are expected to attend school
  2. Sundays
  3. All other days when schools are closed.
 
All work permits are issued subject to the approval of the Local Authority.
 
Wokingham Borough Council Byelaws are in addition to any other rules and regulations which apply to any particular workplace. e.g. health and safety regulations etc.
 
Children 13 years old:
 
Type of Work:
Can only be employed in light work in one or more of the following specified categories:
  • agricultural or horticultural work
  • delivery of newspapers, journals etc.
  • shop work
  • hairdressing salons
  • office work
  • car washing (by hand in a private residential setting)
  • in a cafe or restaurant
  • in a riding stables
  • domestic work in hotels etc.
 
Hours that can be worked:
  1. No child shall start working before 7am or finish after 7pm.
  2. On days that pupils are required to attend school, they can work for one hour before school or up to two hours after school, until 7pm. However, they must not work for more than two hours in total on any school day.
  3. On Sundays, children can work for a maximum of two hours between the hours of 7am and 7pm.
  4. The maximum total number of hours that can be worked in any week during term-time is 12 hours.
 
On Saturdays and during school holidays, children can work for a total of five hours per day. However, they must have a break after four hours work for at least one hour.
 
The maximum total number of hours that can be worked in any week in the school holidays is 25 hours.
 
Children 14 years old:
 
Type of work:
May be employed in light work as long as it is not on the prohibited employment list.
 
Hours that can be worked:
  1. No child shall start working before 7am or finish after 7pm
  2. On days that pupils are required to attend school, they can work for one hour before school and up to two hours after school. However, they must not work for more than two hours in total on any school day.
  3. On Sundays, children can work for a maximum of two hours.
  4. The maximum total number of hours that can be worked in any week during term-time is 12 hours.
 
On all other days when the school is not open, children can work for a total of five hours. However, they must have a break, of at least one hour, after four hours work.
 
The total maximum number of hours that can be worked in any week is 25 hours.
 
Children 15 years and older:
 
Type of work:
May be employed in light work as long as it is not on the prohibited employment list.
 
Hours that can be worked:
  1. No child shall start working before 7am or finish after 7pm.
  2. On days that pupils are required to attend school, they can work for one hour before school and up to two hours after school. However, they must not work for more than two hours in total on any school day.
  3. On Sundays, children can work for a maximum of two hours.
  4. The maximum total number of hours that can be worked in any week during term-time is 12 hours.
 
On all other days, when the school is not open, children can work for a total of eight hours. However, they must have a break of at least one hour, after 4 hours work.
 
The maximum total number of hours that can be worked in any week is 35 hours.
 
List of prohibited employments:
 
No child of any age may be employed:
  • In a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club, (except in connection with a performance given entirely by children OR under the terms and conditions of an entertainment licence)
  • To sell or deliver alcohol except in sealed containers
  • To deliver milk or fuel oils
  • In a commercial kitchen
  • To collect or sort refuse
  • In any work more than three metres above ground, or in the case of internal work three metres above floor level
  • In employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
  • In work involving exposure to adult material or in situations which are for this reason otherwise unsuitable for children
  • In telephone sales
  • In a slaughter house or in a butcher’s shop or other place connected with the killing/butchery of livestock or the preparation of meat for sale
  • As an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade, or in any other place used for the purpose of public amusement by automatic machines, games of chance, or skill etc.
  • In the personal care of residents of any residential home or nursing home unless under the supervision of a responsible adult
  • Before the hour of 7am.
  • In a factory, or industrial undertaking.
 
Visit the Youth Zone for more information and to request or download and application form for a permit.
 
For additional information and please contact:
Child Employment Officer
Education Welfare Service
Children's Services, PO Box 156
Shute End,
Wokingham,
Berkshire,
RG40 I WN
Tel: 0118 974 6206
Fax: 0118 964 6135

Wokingham Borough Council, Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN.   
Telephone: (0118) 974 6000    Minicom: (0118) 974 6991    Email: wokinghambc@wokingham.gov.uk