Child employment - Print version

Coventry Byelaws state that children cannot be employed on a part-time basis until they are aged 14.

The minimum age that a child can work is 13 years, except for children involved in areas such as:

• Television
• Theatre
• Modelling

Children working in these areas will need a Performance Licence.

Complete an Employment Permit application form [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Child_employment_permit_application]

All school age children who are employed part-time must be registered with the Local Authority. It is the responsibility of the Employer to register all children of school age and to undertake a risk assessment.

Child working hours

Children must not work before 7am or after 7pm. Children are not allowed to work more than 12 hours a week during term time. All children must have at least two consecutive weeks off during school holidays.

14 years

• School days – 2 hours (Children can only work outside of school hours; this may include 1 hour before school)
• Saturdays – 5 hours
• Sundays – 2 hours
• School holidays – 5 hours (up to a maximum of 25 hours per week)

15 – 16 years

• School days – 2 hours (Children can only work outside of school hours; this may include 1 hour before school)
• Saturdays – 8 hours
• Sundays – 2 hours
• School holidays – 8 hours (up to a maximum of 35 hours per week)

What the law says about children working

Children must be 13 years old to work. However, in Coventry there is a byelaw that states a child should be 14. 

There are also these restrictions:

• Children can only do light work that will not harm your health, welfare or your school work and your school attendance
• Children must have at least two weeks break from school and work each year.
• Note: The employer must carry out a risk assessment and then inform a child's parents that their health, welfare and safety will not be affected by the work.

Children cannot be employed to do the following things:

• Work in a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall, (except in connection with a performance given entirely by children)
• Sell or deliver alcohol, except in sealed containers
• Deliver fuel oils
• Work in a commercial kitchen
• Collect or sort refuse
• Do any work which is more than three metres above the ground
• Work where harmful physical, biological or chemical agents or substances are used
• Collect money or canvass from door to door
• Work where you may be exposed to adult material or situations which are considered unsuitable for children
• Carry out telephone sales
• Work in a slaughterhouse or butcher's shop, or other premises connected with the killing of livestock, butchery or in the preparation of carcasses or meat for sale
• Work in a fairground or amusement arcade
• Work in the personal care of residents in a residential home
• You cannot work in a factory or warehouse, or in a pub or club, or in a fish and chip shop
• How long children are allowed to work depends upon their age.

Children aged between 14 to 15 can work for:

• Two hours, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, per school day (during term-time). May not work during school hours, and may only work one hour before school
• Five hours, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, on a Saturday
• Two hours, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, on a Sunday
• Five hours per day, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, during school holidays but no more than 25 hours per week

Children aged over 15, but younger than school leaving age, can work for:

• Two hours, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, per school day (during term-time). May not work during school hours, and may only work one hour before school
• Eight hours, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, on a Saturday
• Two hours, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, on a Sunday
• Eight hours per day, between 7.00am and 7.00pm, during school holidays. But no more than 35 hours per week
• These rules have been made by Government for the safety and protection of children, who must not do any job that will cause them injury or harm.

Please also note:

There is currently, no minimum wage for children. Ask your parents what is a reasonable wage for the work you wish to do.

Even if you work with your parents in a family business, they must still apply for a work permit.

The law says "A child assisting in any trade or occupation carried out for profit or gain is deemed to be employed even if he/she receives no award for his/her labour."

You may be asked to show your permit by the police or council officials. Always ask to see their identity card before talking to anyone you do not know.

What employers need to do

If children are employed they are only allowed to work a prescribed number of hours and should have a 'Permit to Work' - further advice can be obtained from the Education Welfare Service.  An employment card is issued to the child, it should be available for inspection at all times whilst at work.

Informing parents

Employers are also required to inform the parents of young people about the risks involved with the work, these will have been identified following the assessment.  Parents should also be informed of the controls that you have implemented to protect them.

Risk assessment

Employers are required to have carried out a specific risk assessment before they commence work.  The assessment should identify the health and safety hazards that the young people are exposed to, and determine what control measures are required to reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring.  The assessment should take into account their inexperience, lack of awareness of existing or potential risks, and immaturity.

It should also determine whether the young person should be prohibited from certain activities.

Fitness to work 

The parent or carer will be asked to sign a form to say the child is fit to work. But if we, or the school, are concerned that the work may be harming a child's health, welfare or school work, a medical may be required to ensure that the child is able to work.

Hazards to consider

Physical hazards

• Carrying (newspaper bags), lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing stairs and ladders
• Working in hot or cold environments
• Working on wet / slippery floors

Equipment hazards

• Dangerous equipment (tools or machinery)
• The safe cleaning of equipment
• Identifying faults and defects with equipment

Chemical hazards

• The use of hazardous chemicals (cleaning, bleaches, dyes, perm solutions)
• Provision of suitable protective clothing (gloves, aprons).

Allergens

• Allergies with certain materials and foods

Access to danger areas 

• Plant and electrical rooms
• Roofs and walkways
• Lift rooms