Under School Leaving Age:
You need to be at least 13 years of age.
You can't work before 7.00am or after 7.00pm.
On Sundays you can only work for a maximum of 2 hours.
- On school days you can work a maximum of 2 hours a day outside of school hours. If you work before the start of the school day the employment must not last longer than 1 hour.
- If you are aged 13/14 years you can work a maximum of 5 hours on a Saturday. During school holidays you can work a maximum of 5 hours per day but no more than 25 hours per week.
- If you are aged 15/16 years you can work a maximum of 8 hours on a Saturday. During school holidays you can work a maximum of 8 hours a day but no more than 35 hours per week.
- You can't work for more than 4 consecutive hours without a rest break of one hour
There are limits on the types of jobs you can do when you're under 16. You can't work in hazardous areas such as a building sites or places with heavy machinery. You can't drive or ride vehicles or machinery (including farm machinery) and you can't work in a betting office, serve alchohol or work on a ship! Contact your Local Education Office for more information - see "Who to contact for more information?" for details.
Pay - workers under 16 years of age:
Don't have to pay national insurance contributions and you will not have to pay income tax unless you earn over £4,195 a year
Are not covered by the National Minimum Wage regulations.You may get a lower rate of pay from your employer. Always check before you start.
Don't get statutory Sick Pay. You may not get sick pay from your employer if you are ill. Always check before you start.
Do have the right to paid holiday in the same way as other workers.
