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Employing young people – What you need to know

Young people are an asset to your workforce.

They can bring new and fresh ideas.
You can ensure that they develop the skills and experience that suits your business.
Young people can motivate an existing workforce.
You can receive financial assistance towards the cost of an Apprenticeship or you can train young people via your own in-house training programme.
You can develop young people now to avoid skills gaps in the future.

Employing young people
All 16-year-olds are not legally available for full-time work until the last Friday in June of their final year at school. Until that time they are covered by the Children (Protection at Work) Regulations 1998. These regulations state that:

young people under the age of 13 are not allowed to work full time;
young people aged 13 years and over are allowed to take part in light work in agriculture or horticulture, in shops, hairdressers, cafes, stables, kennels, in offices and to deliver newspapers; and
young people aged 14 years and over are allowed to take part in light work which is not harmful to their safety, health and development and does not interfere with their school day.

Young people’s working hours (school age) under the Children (Protection at Work) Regulations 1998:

No work during school hours.
No work before 7am and after 7pm.
No more than 12 hours a week in term time.
No more than two hours on a school day or a Sunday.
No more than five hours on any other day (eight hours if over 15).
No more than 25 hours a week during school holidays (35 hours if 15 or over).
No more than four hours without a break of one hour.

Any young person who is of compulsory school age (up to 16) must have a work permit. This is issued by their local council. It is up to the employer to apply for the permit within a week of the young person starting work.

Hours
If you are employing a 16 or 17-year-old there is legislation setting out how many hours they can work in a day and a week, and also what rest breaks they are entitled to. There are restrictions on what night work they can or cannot do. These are known as the ‘Working Times Directive’.

For more information visit: The Department of Trade and Industry website.

Page updated: Saturday, March 8, 2008 10:28 PM