Child Employment

Also known as: Employment Licence, Employment under the age of 16, Work Permits

Service Description: Some children may take the opportunity to work part-time or during school holidays in a paid from the age of 13 to 16 (compulsory school age) or unpaid capacity.

By law, no child under 13 years may be employed. Employers of school aged children (from the age of 13 until completion of compulsory schooling) are required by law to apply to their local authority for a child work permit for any child who works for them. Compulsory school age is determined as the last Friday in June of the school year in which a child reaches the age of 16.

Work permits are issued by the Local Authority, free of charge and it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that they have read and fully understand the statutory requirements for the child employment permit.

The Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Isle of Wight Council Byelaws 1998 regulate the types of work young people are permitted to do and also the number of hours they are allowed to work.

The Isle of Wight Council monitor and regulate school-aged children in work or work experience.

Employers who breach this legislation are risking the safety of young people and can face a fine of up to £1,000. Without a permit, employers are breaking the law and could risk invalidating their insurance.
• You are expected to apply for a work permit within seven days of offering employment to a child
• You must wait for a permit to be issued before the child starts working for you
• You must not employ school age children in a prohibited occupation
• You must not allow school age children to work outside the hours permitted by the child employment byelaws

For information and guidance about the rules and restrictions on children in employment please click the tabs above.

For all queries relating to child employment please use the ‘Contact’ tab above to call or send us a message.