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Under 18s

The law regulates the type of work that young people aged 13 to 18 can do. The law puts restrictions on your employment because it recognizes that there is a need to give you the best possible start in work with protection against unscrupulous employers who might otherwise exploit your age and lack of workplace experience. Many restrictions are age-related.

WORKING WHILE STILL AT SCHOOL
Every young person up to the age of 16 is obliged by law to attend school. This means that there are limits on the kind of work which you can do while still undertaking compulsory schooling. In general you are not allowed to work, whether paid or unpaid, until you become 14 unless you are doing occasional light agricultural or horticulture work for your family; or you are aged over 13 and are doing some light work - for example a newspaper round which your local authority has said is suitable. Your local authority should have published bylaws which lay down the kind of work you can do once you reach 13.

You or your parent(s) should contact your local authority to check that their bylaws allow you to do whatever work you might be planning.

Once you have reached the age of 14 you have a wider choice of work available to you, although there are still significant restrictions on what you can do and when you can do it. Under special regulations (laws) introduced in 1998 you can take up employment provided that what you are doing is defined as “light” work. In other words, it must not be harmful to your safety, health and development and must not interfere with your school attendance. The rules are that you are not allowed to work for more than two hours on any day when you have to be in school; and on Sundays.

On days when you are not at school you can work but only between the hours af 7am and 7pm and up to five hours a day (if aged 14) and eight hours a day (if aged 15). You cannot work more than four hours in any day without at least an hour’s break.

During holidays you can work up to 25 hours a week (if aged 14) or 35 hours a week (if aged 15). You must have at least two consecutive weeks without work during holidays.

WORK EXPERIENCE
In your last year of compulsory schooling you may have the opportunity for some work experience. This should last for a week and is intended to give you an idea of what the world of work will be like. During that week some of the standard rules, which cover employment under the age of 16, will not apply. lnstead you will be covered by the rules for 16-18 year olds.

16 TO 18 YEAR OLDS
Once you have passed the compulsory school leaving age, restrictions on your employment diminish. However, the law recognizes that you still may need special protection in the workplace.

The hours that you can work before your 18th birthday are restricted. You must usually be given a minimum daily rest break of 12 hours, two days off a week and a minimum 30 minute break after 4.5 hours of continuous work. Your rights are explained in full in Hours of Work .

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