Child employment is covered by strict rules and regulations, which protect children from any harm / being exploited and make sure that the child’s health and education does not suffer.
As the local education authority in Wrexham County Borough, we (Wrexham Council) have the legal authority to:
- oversee children who have a part time job
- prosecute any employer who breaks the law
General guidance (parents, children and employers)
Age requirements
- It is illegal for a child under 13 years of age to be employed – a child must have reached their 13th birthday before an application for a work permit can be made.
- The legislation applies to all children (including the children of the employer) up to the end of their compulsory education – defined as the last Friday in June in the academic year in which they turn 16.
Getting a National Insurance Number and card does not mean that a child can get a full time job and/or leave school.
Approved types of work
In Wrexham a child aged 13 may only be employed in light work in the following categories:
- office work
- in riding stables
- hairdressing salons
- in a café or restaurant
- agricultural or horticultural work
- shop work, including shelf stacking
- car washing by hand in a private residential setting
- delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material
- domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation
General work time limits
- No child can work at any time between 7pm and 7am.
- No child can work more than 2 hours on a school day.
- No child can work for more than 2 hours on a Sunday.
- No child can work more than 12 hours during any week they are required to attend school.
Age specific work time limits
- A child aged 13 or 14 years can work up to 5 hours on a Saturday or school holiday, and can work up to a maximum of 25 hours a week during school holidays.
- A child aged 15 or 16 years can work up to 8 hours on a Saturday or school holiday, and can work up to a maximum of 35 hours a week during school holidays.
- A child who works for 4 hours must have a break of at least 1 hour.
Wages
There is nowhere in the legislation which states how much a school aged child must be paid. This is a decision that is made between the employer, child and parent/guardian.
However, a child still counts as being employed even if no payment is provided at all or if payment in kind (for example free riding lessons, lunch or goods) is given.
Employer responsibility
You must complete a child work permit application form within 7 days of a child starting work. The form must be signed by the child’s parent/guardian and you must also submit a copy of the relevant risk assessment.
Health and safety
As an employer, you have a legal duty to make sure your workplace is safe for your employees. You must:
- carry out a specific young persons risk assessment of any hazards in the employment and inform the parent/guardian of the child what (if any) those hazards are
- make sure that you provide the child with proper training, supervision and guidance
- make sure that child wears suitable clothing and footwear
- arrange appropriate insurance cover
Apply for a permit
Please email child_employment@wrexham.gov.uk to request a child work permit application form and risk assessment template.
Further guidance
The guidance on this page does not cover all of the child employment rules and regulations.
As an employer, you are responsible for making sure that you are fully aware of the legislation and that any child in you employ is employed legally.
Contact our child employment team
If you have any questions please email child_employment@wrexham.gov.uk.