Licence - child employment

Young people of compulsory school age often like to supplement their pocket money by taking on a part-time job, such as delivering newspapers or working in a shop at weekends and many parents want their children to do this in order to achieve more independence and self-discipline.

However, laws exist to protect children from exploitation and to give paramount consideration to their welfare.

Can my child work?

Yes, but only from age thirteen, only part-time and many restrictions apply. Any work your child does must not interfere with, or affect, their school work or attendance at school.

What is work?

The answer to this might seem obvious, but basically a child is employed if they assist in any trade of occupation carried on for profit. It does not matter whether the child is paid or not for the work done, and it makes no difference if the child is assisting their own parents in their business, working for a relative, or working for a major company.

Do they need a work permit?

Yes. All children who are employed need to be licensed. This is a legal requirement and also covers them for any incidents or accidents that might happen.

The Rochdale Pupil Services licenses all children who live in Rochdale, even if they work outside it, or go to school in another Authority.

How do they apply for a work permit?

The person who wants to employ your child should have an ‘Employment of Children’ form. Your child can also get the from school or you can download one here.

You fill in the first part of the form; the prospective employer fills in the rest and sends it to us for authorisation.

Application for an employment licence (35kb pdf file)

What happens next?

We check that the details on the form are correct, and contact the parent/school/prospective employer if we have any queries.

If we can authorise the work, we will:

• Issue an employment card to you
• Send a letter of confirmation to the employer with a copy of the employment card
• Keep a copy for our records
• Put your child and the employer on our database. This information may be shared with Education colleagues

How long does the authorisation last?

For as long as your child is employed by the same employer, or until s/he is over official school-leaving age; that is, the last Friday in June of year eleven. Once your child leaves the employment, the employer should return the employment card to us so that we can amend our records.

Can the licence be withdrawn?

Yes: if we are concerned about your child’s welfare in any way, or if your child is missing school.

My child has received a National Insurance Card. Can they start full-time work?

No: not until s/he is over official school-leaving age.

Work your child cannot do until official school leaving-age

• In a cinema, theatre, disco, dance hall or night club unless licensed under Child Performance regulations
• Sell or deliver alcohol (except in sealed containers)
• Deliver milk
• Deliver fuel oils
• In a commercial kitchen
• Collect or sort refuse
• In any work more than three metres above ground level
• In any work where your child is exposed to dangerous or harmful substances
• Collect money or sell or canvas door to door
• Involving exposure to adult material or situations
• In telephone sales
• In a slaughterhouse
• In an amusement arcade or fairground
• Looking after care/nursing home residents unless under the supervision of a responsible adult.

Work your thirteen your old is allowed to do

• Agricultural or horticultural work
• Deliver newspapers
• Show work
• Hairdressers
• Office work
• Car washing
• In a cafe or restaurant
• In riding stables
• Domestic work

All children may be employed only in light work

Age limits

Children must be aged thirteen before they can work.

Your child does not need a licence once they are over official school-leaving age, but still cannot work behind a bar until they are eighteen (unless on an approved training scheme).

Working hours

• If your child works for more than four hours, they must have an hour’s break.
• If your child works during the school holidays, they must have a two week period free from work.
• Your child can only work 12 hours maximum in any school week

Health and safety

It is now a legal requirement that your child’s employer does a health and safety risk assessment of their premises.

The employer also has to ensure that your child is properly protected when working for them and has appropriate clothing for indoor and outdoor work.

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