Homepage > Employers > Employment Legislation > Legislation Under 16

• No young person under 13 can be employed. (Acting is an exception, when a part can only be undertaken by a child of that age)
• Young people that are under the age of 16 require a work permit from your local authority.
• Nobody under 16 may be employed in any dangerous or manufacturing activity.
• 13 and 14 year olds must not work more than five hours per day on Saturdays and during school holidays.
• 13 and 14 year olds must not work more than 25 hours in total per week during school holidays.
• 15-16 year olds must not work more than eight hours per day on Saturdays and during school holidays.
• 15-16 year olds must not work more than 35 hours in total per week during school holidays.
• Young people under the school-leaving age must not do:
  • any work before 7am or after 7pm (paid or unpaid)
  • more than two hours work on a school day or a Sunday
  • work before the close of school hours (Local Authorities may have their own bylaws)
  • more than twelve hours work a week during school term time
  • more than four hours work without taking at least a one hour break
  • work in prohibited occupations that maybe harmful to their health such as pubs or betting shops (consult local authority if in doubt)
• In each calendar year young people must have a two-week break from any work during the school holiday.
• You must have a risk assessment or review existing risk assessments before taking on a young person still at school.

Department of Health
You can download a summary of the legislation which governs the employment of children.