|
Background
The law regulating the employment of young people is the
Children and Young Person’s Act 1933, last revised in August
1998. It ...
- applies to all young people under compulsory school age. Those
reaching their sixteenth birthday between 1 September and 31 August
in any school year are of compulsory school age until the last
Friday in June
- is administered by Local Education Authorities who may have
bye-laws which amend or add to the national law
- aims to prevent the exploitation of young people at work and
protect their health and safety
The minimum working age for anyone is 14, unless local bye-laws
allow certain light work.
Young people of compulsory school age may only be employed if
they ...
- are over 13 years old
- have a work permit issued by the Local Education Authority
- have suitable clothes and shoes if working outdoors
‘Employment’ includes assistance in any trade of
occupation which is carried on for profit, whether or not payment
is received for that assistance.
So you want to have a part-time job while you’re still
at school?
If you are under 13 ...
You cannot be employed by anyone to do any kind of work. You can
run errands for friends and neighbours, but you should not be paid.
A member of your family can employ you but only to do light work limited to one or two jobs, which are
different in different local areas.
If you are 13 ...
You may be allowed to do light work
in a limited range of jobs. These are different in different local
areas but usually include ...
- agricultural and horticultural work
- delivering newspapers, magazines and other printed
material
- shop work including shelf stacking
- hairdressing
- office work
- car washing by hand in a private residential area
- work in a café or restaurant but not in the kitchen
- riding stables
- domestic work in hotels and other places offering
accommodation
If you are 14, 15 or 16 ...
You can work in other jobs as well as those listed for 13 year
olds, as long as it is only light work.
Light work is ...
- work that is not likely to affect your safety, health or
physical and mental development;
- work that will not affect your attendance or performance at
school, or during work experience.
At 13, 14, 15 or 16 you are not allowed to work
...
- in any factory, industrial workplace or company registered
under the Factories Act
- in a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club,
except where the performance is entirely given by children
- selling or delivering alcohol, except in sealed containers
- delivering milk
- delivering fuel oils
- in a commercial kitchen, i.e. where food is prepared for
sale
- collecting or sorting refuse
- in any work at more than 3 metres above ground level, or 3
metres above floor level inside buildings
- in any work involving exposure to harmful physical, biological
or chemical agents
- collecting money, selling or canvassing door-to-door, except
when supervised by an adult
- in telephone sales
- in any slaughterhouse, butcher’s shop or other premises
connected with killing livestock, or the preparation of meat for
sale
- as an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement
arcade
- in the personal care of residents in any residential care home
or nursing home, unless supervised by an adult
- in street trading unless you have a licence or are employed by
your parent and under his/her direct supervision
- in a performance for which a charge is made, or work as a model
unless you have a licence, but you can take part in performances
arranged by your school
Between 13 and 16 you cannot work ...
- before 7.00 am or after 7.00 pm on any day of the week
- during school hours
- for more than 2 hours on a school weekday
- for more than 1 hour before school starts
- for more than 2 hours on any Sunday
- for more than 5 hours on Saturdays and school holidays (8 hours
if you are 15 or 16)
- for more than 25 hours a week during the school holidays (35
hours if you are 15 or 16)
You are also entitled to daily and annual rest
breaks:
- 1 hour’s break if you work more than 4 hours in a
day
- 2 weeks completely free from work during the year
What should you be paid?
Since 1999 there has been a minimum wage for adults in the UK.
People under 18 are not entitled to a minimum rate of pay. Your pay
will depend on what you can negotiate with your employer. If you
are unhappy with your pay compare it with that of your friends in
similar jobs; try to negotiate a better rate. If in doubt contact
the Employment Rights Service.
Your health and safety at work:
- Your employer is responsible for having health and safety
procedures for employees and can be prosecuted if they are not in
place. If you are injured you may sue for damages.
- You are responsible for following the procedures and reporting
any unsafe conditions, e.g. trailing electrical wires.
- If you are working illegally you will not be covered by your
employer’s insurance.
How to obtain a work permit:
- Get an application form from your school or Local Education
Authority offices.
- Ask your employer to fill it in to give the days and hours when
you will work, where you will work and what tasks you will be
doing. He/she must declare that a risk assessment has been carried
out.
- Take it home for your parents or carers to sign declaring that
they have no objections on health or educational grounds to you
doing what is described on the form.
- Take the form back to school or post it to the address given on
it.
- If the application is all right a work permit will be sent to
your parents/carers.
- A copy will be sent to your employer, who must keep it in the
workplace.
- He or she must show the permit to a police officer or the
authorised person from the LEA when asked.
Remember ...
- The law gives you rights at work which are designed to protect
you. It is your employer’s responsibility to see that you are
protected.
- As an employee you are responsible for turning up on time and
doing the job as well as you can.
- Make sure that you are working legally. You will not be
protected if you are not.
- Do not try to lift and carry heavy things – leave that to
older, stronger people.
- If you deliver papers etc. on your bicycle, make sure
it’s safe and that you wear a helmet; have your lights on, on
winter mornings and evenings.
- If you think your employer is not carrying out the law, talk to
your parents/carers, the health and safety officer or the trade
union representative if there is one at work.
Useful contacts:
Children’s Legal Centre
01206 873820
Childline
0800 1111 (free 24-hour confidential phone
line for children in trouble or danger)
Look in the phone book for the numbers of the following local
organisations:
Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Health and Safety Executive
Local Education Authority
Local Education Welfare Office
© 2000 Channel Four Television
Corporation
|
