If you’ve ever considered employing children to work within your business, there are a few guidelines to which you must adhere.
Part Time
The youngest age a child can work part-time is 13, except children involved in areas like:
- television
- theatre
- modelling
Children working in these areas will need a performance licence.
Full Time
Children can only start full-time work once they’ve reached the minimum school leaving age, in England a young person must be in part time education or training until they are 18.
Once someone reaches 16, you may need to pay them through PAYE.
Once someone reaches 18, adult employment rights and rules then apply.
Children under 16
School-aged children aren’t entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Children under 16 don’t pay National Insurance, so you only need to include them on your payroll if their total income is over their Personal Allowance.
Once someone reaches 16
Young workers aged 16 to 17 are entitled to at least £4.05 per hour.
If you’re a registered employer, you’ll need to record and report their pay as part of running payroll. If they earn more than £113 a week, you’ll also need to do other regular PAYE tasks like making deductions.
Restrictions on child employment
There are several restrictions on when and where children are allowed to work.
Children are not allowed to work:
- without an employment permit issued by the education department of the local council;
- in a factory or industrial site;
- during school hours;
- before 7am or after 7pm;
- for more than one hour before school;
- for more than 4 hours without taking a break of at least 1 hour;
- in most jobs in pubs and betting shops;
- in any work that may be harmful to their health, well-being or education;
- without having a 2-week break from any work during the school holidays in each calendar year
There are also special rules which only apply during term times and school holiday times.
Term time rules
During term time children can only work a maximum of 12 hours a week. This includes:
- a maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays
- a maximum of 5 hours on Saturdays for 13 to 14-year-olds, or 8 hours for 15 to 16-year-olds
School holiday rules
During school holidays 13 to 14-year-olds are only allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours a week. This includes:
- a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
- a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday
During school holidays 15 to 16-year-olds can only work a maximum of 35 hours a week. This includes:
- a maximum of 8 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
- a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday