Children in employment and entertainment

It is illegal to employ a child to work:

• in a cinema, theatre, disco, dance hall or nightclub
• selling or delivering alcohol
• delivering milk
• delivering fuel oils
• in a commercial kitchen
• collecting or sorting refuse
• in any job 3 metres above the ground inside or outside
• in a job involving dangerous exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
• in a job involving exposure to adult material or in situations unsuitable for children
• in telephone sales
• in any slaughterhouse or butchers shop
• in a gambling environment
• in the personal care of residents of any care home or nursing home.

You can only employ a 13-year-old in 'light work' to:

• do agricultural or horticultural work
• deliver newspapers, journals and other printed materials
• work in a shop
• work in hairdressing salons
• do office work
• wash cars in a private residential setting
• work in a cafe or restaurant
• work in riding stables
• clean in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation.

Children can only work between 7am and 7pm.

13 and 14 year olds can work:

• 2 hours a day during term time
• 5 hours on a non school day
• 2 hours on a Sunday
• 12 hours a week during school term
• 25 hours a week in school holidays.

15 and 16 year olds can work:

• 2 hours a day during term time
• 8 hours on a non school day
• 2 hours on a Sunday
• 12 hours a week during school term
• 35 hours a week in school holidays.

After working 4 hours, children should get a 1 hour break.

Children are only allowed to work 1 hour before a school day begins.