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Child employment and performance licences

What work is permitted is permitted for children

Licencing - Child employment - accordion

Children aged under 10

Children under 10 years of age are not permitted to work.

Children aged 10 to 12

Children of this age can be employed by a parent or guardian in light agricultural or horticultural work.

No permit is needed.

Children aged 13 to 14

Children aged 13 and 14 are not permitted to be employed - except in light work in:

  • agricultural or horticultural work
  • delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material and collecting payment for same, subject to the provisions of byelaw 3(I)
  • shop work, including shelf stacking
  • hairdressing salons
  • office work
  • car washing by hand in a private residential setting
  • in a café or restaurant, though not in the kitchen
  • in riding stables
  • domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation

Download our Byelaws for a full definition of light work.

Hours they can work

Term time:

  • school days - no more than two hours per day (either one hour before and one after, or two hours after school)
  • Saturdays - five hours per day
  • Sundays -two hours per day

School holidays:

  • weekdays and Saturdays - up to five hours per day
  • Sundays - two hours per day

Also, children:

  • can only work between the hours of 7am and 7pm, even in school holidays
  • must not work more than 12 hours per week in term time, 25 hours per week in school holidays
  • should be given a one hour break every four hours
  • should have at least two consecutive weeks off during school holidays

Children aged 15 to 16

Children of this age and above can do light work in any areas listed, as well as light work in other jobs not on the prohibited list:

  • delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material and collecting payment for same, subject to the provisions of byelaw 3(I)
  • agricultural or horticultural work
  • shop work, including shelf stacking
  • hairdressing salons
  • office work
  • car washing by hand in a private residential setting
  • in a café or restaurant, though not in the kitchen
  • in riding stables
  • domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation

Download our Byelaws for a full definition of light work.

Hours they can work

Term time:

  • school days - no more than two hours per day (either one hour before and one after, or two hours after school)
  • Saturdays - eight hours per day
  • Sundays -two hours per day

School holidays:

  • weekdays and Saturdays - up to eight hours per day
  • Sundays - two hours per day

Also, children:

  • can only work between the hours of 7am and 7pm, even in school holidays
  • must not work more than 12 hours per week in term time, 25 hours per week in school holidays
  • should be given a one hour break every four hours
  • should have at least two consecutive weeks off during school holidays

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