Child Employment

If your child wants to have paid part-time work while still at school there are a number of rules that apply.

The employment of children is covered by strict rules and regulations which protect children from any harm or being exploited. These legal requirements ensure that the young people are properly registered and are not undertaking work that could damage their health, place them in physical danger, or have an adverse effect on their education.

The local authority is the agency who are responsible for overseeing children who have a part time job and prosecuting any employer who breaks the law.

A child must have attained 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) who are under compulsory school age.

The official date for leaving school is the last Friday in June in the school year in which the pupil is 16. Before this date young people between the ages of 13 and 16 may apply for a work permit for any paid part time work. An application form must be completed and signed by the parents and the employer.

Employers responsibility

Every child of school age who has a part time job working for an employer whether they are paid or undertaking voluntary work must be registered with the local authority and have a work permit. It is the employers' responsibility to apply for a work permit in order to employ the child.

If you, as an employer want children to work for you then you must consider the rules and regulations which control how many hours the child may work, what type of work the child can do and the type of premises the child will be working in.

The employer must complete a child employment application form which must be signed by the employer and the child's parent / guardian. This application gives details of the child, hours of work, place of work and the type of work to be undertaken.

The employer must carry out a specific Young Person's Risk Assessment of any hazards relating to the child employment together with having appropriate insurance cover and inform the parent / guardian of the outcome of the assessment.

For further information and an application form, download the documents on this page or alternatively you can contact child.employment@swansea.gov.uk.