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Child Employment

Child Employment Guidelines

Children and Young Persons Act 1933(As amended).

Oldham Council Bye-Laws 1998

Introduction:

The definition of ‘employment’ as applies to children of statutory school age includes assistance in any trade or occupation which is carried on for profit, whether or not payment is received for that assistance.

A child can officially work as an adult after the last Friday in June, at the end of Year 11.

General information

Many parents and employers do not know that children below minimum school leaving age who have a job that is part of business are regarded as 'working' whether or not they are paid. If they are working without a work permit they will they are unlikely to be covered by the employer’s insurance policy.

Children of statutory school age must ensure they are familiar with the byelaws outlined below before they commence any part-time work.

Working in a prohibited occupation or without a licence in a permitted occupation can result in employers or parents being prosecuted and fined up to £1000.

Oldham Bye-laws

Any child undertaking any part-time work must be 13 or over.

Permitted work

They may only be employed in one or more of the following categories;

  1. agricultural or horticultural work;
  2. delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material;
  3. shop work, including shelf stacking;
  4. hairdressing salons;
  5. office work;
  6. in a café or restaurant
  7. in riding stables; and
  8. domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation.

Hours of work

Age Days Duration
13-14 School days
Saturday
Sunday
School Holidays
2 hours a day (Maximum of 12 hours in a school week
5 hours
2 hours
5 hours (Maximum of 25 hours in a week)
15-16 School days
Saturday
Sunday
School Holidays
2 hours a day (Maximum of 12 hours in a week)
8 hours
2 hours
8 hours (Maximim of 35 hours in a week)

Prohibited work

No child of any age may be employed;

  1. in cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club, except in connection with a performance given entirely by children
  2. to sell or deliver alcohol, except in sealed containers;
  3. to deliver milk;
  4. to deliver fuel oils;
  5. in a commercial kitchen;
  6. to collect or sort refuse;
  7. in employment involving harmful exposure to physical,biological or chemical agents;
  8. to collect money, sell or canvass, door to door;
  9. in telephone sales;
  10. in any slaughterhouse, or butchers shop;
  11. as an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement

Child Employment Form:

*Child Employment Form

Must be signed by employer and parent.

You may be interested in our Factsheet:

Child Employment

For further information and advice, please contact:

The Licensing Officer
Safeguarding and Partnerships
Unit 10 Whitney Court
Southlink Business Park
Oldham
OL4 1DB

Tel: 0161 770 6627

Email:child.licensing@oldham.gov.uk

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download pdf files.

The National Child Employment Network has a national website which you may want to search for further information.

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/nncee