Young people of school age often take on a job like delivering newspapers or a Saturday job in a shop. This explains some of the regulations that cover this sort of work and tells you where you can get more information.

 

How old do I have to be?

Once you are 13 years old you can work under local byelaws until you leave school. The official leaving date is the last Friday in June after you turn 16. Even if you are 16 and have a National Insurance Number you can’t work full–time until after the official leaving date.

 

Do I need to register for work?

Yes. Application forms are available from the Child Employment Officer at Gordon House on 0191 424 7400. Your employer must tell us within 7 days of you starting work. If we agree and your parents or carers give consent, you will be sent a work permit.

 

Can I be stopped from working?

Yes. If the job makes you late for school or affects your attendance, or if your wider education, health or welfare interests suffer because of the job, then it would be stopped.

 

Permitted employment at 13

If you are 13 you can do light work in the following jobs:

 

• Delivering newspapers or leaflets
• Shop work
• Hairdressing
• Office work
• Café / restaurant
• Riding stables
• Domestic work in hotels or other accommodation
• Agriculture / horticulture
• Car washing by hand in a residential setting

 

For 13 and 14 year-olds

• You can't work more than 12 hours per week during term time (which includes weekends)
• You can't work more than 2 hours on a school day - 1 hour before school and 1 after, or 2 hours after school
• On Saturday the limit is 5 hours
• On Sunday the limit is 2 hours - during school holidays, the maximum is 5 hours per day and 25 hours per week

 

For 15 and 16 year-olds the limits are the same except that during term time the Saturday limit rises to 8 hours and during school holidays the daily limit is raised to 8 hours.

 

14, 15 and 16 year olds

From 14 you can do any light work except for prohibited jobs.

 

Prohibited jobs include:

 

• Delivering milk
• Telephone sales
• Selling / delivering alcohol
• Working in a commercial kitchen
• Collecting / sorting refuse
• Cinema, theatre, disco or nightclub, (except in connection with a performance)
• Collecting money, selling or canvassing door to door
• Anything involving exsposure to adult material
• Delivering fuel oil
• Working 3 metres above ground or floor level
• Anything that involves harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
• Attendant / assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade
• Working in any part of a premises connected with killing livestock, butchery or preparing meat for sale
• Giving personal care in a residential or nursing home
• Any work paid on a commission-only basis

 

How many hours can I work?

You cannot work before 7am or after 7pm.

 

What should I be paid?

There are no recommended rates tof pay for young people. It should be "reasonable" for the work involved.

 

Print this page

^ Back to top of page