4.13.5 Children who wish to Work |
The minimum age where a child can work is 13 years old.
The types of work that a child from this age on can be employed in are:
- Shop;
- Agricultural / horticultural;
- Paper delivery;
- Office;
- Hairdressing;
- Hand car washing in private residential setting;
- Cafe / restaurant;
- Riding stable work;
- Domestic work in an office, hotel or other establishment offering accommodation.
The types of work that a child may not be employed in are:
- In a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club;
- At a race course or betting office;
- Selling or delivering alcohol, except in sealed containers;
- Delivering milk, fuels or oils;
- In a commercial kitchen, factory or garage;
- Collecting or sorting refuse;
- Any work three metres above ground / floor level;
- Using industrial processes or equipment;
- Employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents;
- Collecting money, selling or canvassing door-to-door, except under adult supervision;
- Work involving exposure to adult material or situations unsuitable to children;
- Telephone sales;
- In a slaughterhouse or part of a butcher’s establishment used for the preparation of carcasses;
- As an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade with automatic machines, games of skill or chance; (see below)
- In the personal care of residents in a residential care or nursing home.
With regard to work on a fairground or amusement arcade, this should be handled with sensitivity and cultural awareness in respect of children from traveller, gypsy or Romany communities where such work may be part of the cultural make-up of the family. Advice and guidance as to how to approach this should be sought from:
The Support Teacher for Traveller children who is based in the Inclusion Support Service at Addison House in Southgate.
A child of statutory school-going age may not work during normal school hours.
A child of between 13 and 14 years may work for a total of 12 hours per week, divided as follows: 2 hours between 7am and 7pm Sunday to Friday, and 5 hours between 7am and 7pm Saturday. During school holidays, a child of between 13 and 14 may work a total of 25 hours per week divided as follows: 5 hours between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday and 2 hours per day Sunday between 7am and 7pm.
A child of between 15 and 16 years may work the same total number of hours per week divided as follows: 2 hours per day between 7am and 7pm Sunday to Friday and 8 hours per day between 7am and 7pm Saturday. During school holidays, children of this age may work 35 hours per week divided as follows: 8 hours per day Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm, and 2 hours per day between 7am and 7pm Sunday.
A work permit must be obtained before a child between 13 and 16 years of age may work. An application form and advice on how to progress this can be obtained from the borough’s Education Welfare Service.
Forms, Standard Letters and Recording
There are no forms, standard letters and recording associated with this chapter. All forms and recording mentioned in the chapter are available on the CFIR.
End