Child Employment - Information for Parents / Guardians and Children

A child can gain so much from having a part time job, not only by reason of earning money, but also working with other people in the work environment thus helping them with their social skills.

The employment of children is covered by strict rules and regulations which protect children from any harm or being exploited and to make sure the child’s health and education does not suffer. 

The Local (Education) Authority is the agency which, in law, has the authority of over seeing children who have a part time job and of prosecuting any employer who breaks the law.  In Wrexham this falls to Education Inclusion within the Prevention and Inclusion Department of the Children and Young People Service.

A child must have attained his/her 13th birthday before an application for a work permit can be made.

The legislation applies to all children (including the children of the employer) who are below the upper limit of compulsory school age.  (A child’s compulsory schooling finishes on the last Friday in June of the school year during which they attain their 16th birthday and does not finish on their 16th birthday).  Receiving a National Insurance Number and Card is not a sign that a child can get a full time job and/or leave school).

Every child of school age who has a part time job working for an employer must be registered with the Education Authority and have a work permit.  It is the employers’ responsibility to apply for a work permit in order to employ the child.

The employer must carry out a specific Young Persons Assessment of any hazards in the employment and inform the parent/guardian of the child what (if any) those hazards are. The employer must also make sure that proper clothing and footwear are worn and that proper training and guidance is given to the child, together with appropriate insurance cover.

Within 7 days of the child starting work the employer must complete a Child Employment application form which must be signed by the employer and the child’s parent/guardian. This application gives details of the child, hours of work, place of work and the type of work to be undertaken.

There is nowhere in the legislation which states how much a school aged child must be paid, this is left for negotiations between the employer, child and parent/guardian, however, no payment at all or payment in kind (e.g. free riding lessons or free lunch or goods) is still regarded as being employed.

Further details can be obtained from the Child Employment Officer at the Local (Education) Authority.

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