Employment guidelines for schoolchildren

Released: 15 July 2008

With the school summer holidays drawing near it is timely to remind employers and parents of the rules regarding the employment of children who are still of compulsory school age.

Many children will be looking for ‘something to do’ during the summer break, whilst at the same time earning some extra money, which is understandable, but there are regulations which exist to safeguard the health and well-being of children whilst they are at work and to make their first taste of work pleasant and rewarding.

It is important that any child who is employed does so strictly in accordance with the law.  Theses rules are not just ‘red tape’ - they exist to protect the health and physical well-being of children whilst at work. 

A person wishing to employ a child should notify the Child Employment Section, located within the Safeguarding Service, at the Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, within seven days of the commencement of the employment in order to register the employment.

During the school holidays children aged 13/14 years can work up to five hours a day (maximum 25 hours per week); children aged 15/16 can work up to eight hours a day (maximum 35 hours per week).    Children may not work before 7.00 am or after 7.00 pm. It is illegal to employ a child who is under the age of 13 years.

Prohibited employments include working in factories, betting shops, fried fish shops, pubs, theatres and garage forecourts.  Door to door selling, canvassing, street trading, cash collection, delivering milk and any kind of building work are also prohibited.

For further advice or to register a child for employment please contact childemployment@wolverhampton.gov.uk or telephone 01902 555233.

Issued by the press office.