If you are between the ages of 13 to 16 years and are at school, you are entitled to have a part-time job, but there are some regulations about the sort of work you can do.
The regulations are to protect your well-being and to help ensure that having a job does not affect your education.
You may only start part-time work when you are 13 years old. You may only do particular aspects of the jobs from the following list of light work:
- agricultural or horticultural work
- delivering newspapers
- work in a shop
- work in a hairdressers
- office work
- wash cars (not in a garage)
- in a cafe or restaurant (excluding food preparation)
- work in a riding stables
- domestic work in hotels
From the age of 14 years you may:
- do any work from the above list and other light work providing it is not on the list of prohibited employment (below)
At all ages:
- You should have a one hour break if you work for more than 4 hours in one day. Your employer should ensure you have a 2 week break during school holidays each year.
Prohibited employment:
- work in a cinema, theatre, dance hall, disco or night club
- sell or deliver alcohol
- work in a petrol station
- work in a commercial kitchen
- undertake food preparation
- collect or sort refuse
- window clean or do any job which involves you being more than 3 metres off the ground
- do a job which might bring you into contact with harmful chemicals
- call at people's houses to collect money
- be exposed to adult material which is considered unsuitable for children
- work in telephone sales
- work in a slaughter house, abattoir or butcher's shop
- work in a fairground or amusement arcade
- work in 'personal care' in a residential or nursing home
Your permit will last for as long as your job does. However, if you change jobs or hours of employment, or stop working, you need to inform us.
Your licence can be withdrawn if the Council believes that:
- you are being unlawfully employed
- your health, welfare or school attendance or ability to take advantage of your education are suffering or likely to suffer as a result of your employment.
Useful Documents
