Child employment

How old must a child be to work legally?

The minimum age for children to be employed is 13 years. However, 13 year olds can only work in certain circumstances. An 'Employment Permit' is required and MUST be issued in the Local Authority where children work, regardless of where they live or go to school.

When can children work?

There are restrictions on the times children can work. This is a summary of the main provision of the legislation. It is not exhaustive.

On school days
No child shall be employed on school days except for one hour before school, commencing no earlier than 7am and between the close of school hours and 7.00 pm. No child can work for more than two hours on any one day.

On Saturdays and school holidays
No child shall be employed except between the hours of 7.00 am and 7.00 pm, and then only in accordance with certain restrictions on the number of hours worked (see below).

On Sundays
No child shall be employed except between the hours of 7.00 am and 11.00 am, and then only for no more than two hours. Restrictions on the number of hours children may work are shown below. Children must have a continuous two week break from employment during the year.

Children under 15 years of age:
Maximum number of hours of employment on any day except Sunday - 5 hours
Maximum period of employment without continuous interval of at least 1 hour for rest and recreation - 4 hours
Maximum number of hours per week during school holidays - 25 hours
Maximum number of hours per week during term time - 12 hours

Children aged 15 years and over*:
Maximum number of hours of employment on any day except Sunday - 8 hours
Maximum period of employment without continuous interval of at least 1 hour for rest and recreation - 4 hours
Maximum number of hours per week during school holidays - 35 hours
Maximum number of hours per week during term time - 12 hours

*There is only one school leaving date in Year 11 which is the last Friday in June each year. An application for a permit should be made (even if the child is over 16) if they are in their final GCSE year at school.

What kind of work can children do?

Within the permitted hours, Vale of Glamorgan Council prohibit certain employments. Employment includes assistance in any trade or occupation which is carried on for profit, whether or not payment is received for that assistance.

All employment which is not registered, where no Employment Permit is in force, is illegal. All employers must register the employment and all children should have an Employment Permit. The employer must complete a risk assessment and convey this to the parent/carer.

There are separate regulations on performance and modelling work.

The work permit MUST be issued in the Local Authority where children work, regardless of where they live or go to school.

Legal Employment:
Newspaper delivery 
Garden Centres 
Some farm work 
Fruit picking 
Office Work 
Hairdressers 
Shop work including shelf stacking 
Domestic work 
Waiting on tables 
Stable work

Illegal Employment:
Delivering fuel oils 
Commercial kitchens 
Street trading 
Fairground and amusement arcades 
Pub and bar work 
Building sites 

Cleaning/operating machinery 
Door to door selling 
Gambling Clubs 
Delivery of milk 
Cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night clubs 
Collecting or sorting refuse 
Sale of alcohol, except in sealed containers 
Preparation of meat or fish for sale 
Telephone sales 
Activities connected with the use of firearms 
Personal care of residents in care homes (except under supervision of an adult) 
Markets  (unless employed and directly supervised by a child's parent in connection with their retail business, but not to handle cash)

Please Note: Babysitting is not subject to regulation.

What are the penalties for illegal child employment or child employment without a work permit?

The employer, and any other person (other than the person employed) by whose act or default caused the employment to be in contravention of the provisions of the child employment legislation may be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 (£1,000) on the Standard Scale.

The Association of British Insurers have stated that unless a child were to be registered, the child might not be included under an employer's liability insurance policy.

Contact us

If you have any queries or require an application form you can contact the Senior Education Welfare Officer or Child Employment Officer on 01446 700111.