Children in employment and entertainment
Information to ensure the safety of children if they work part-time (including in a family business) or are involved in entertainment productions.
There are laws in place to protect children who are below school-leaving age and who work part-time, for example delivering newspapers, assisting in a retail shop or hairdressing salon, or washing-up or waiting on tables in a café or restaurant.
There are also laws in place to protect children who take part in performances (for theatre, television and film) or the activities of paid modelling or paid sport.
Here you can find more information to help ensure that children do these things safely and legally.
Children in employment
Many children enjoy getting a part-time job as it enables them to gain practical experience, develop their skills and abilities, learn how to work with the public, and start to build their CV – all while earning some pocket money.
At the same time, there are laws in place to ensure that any part-time work is safe for children and does not detract from their compulsory education.
If an employer wishes to employ a child (including in a family business), they must apply for an employment permit. This includes paid work by the child, as well as unpaid assistance in a trade or occupation which is carried on for profit.
The legal minimum age of employment is 13, and the permit requirement applies until a child ceases to be of compulsory school age on the last Friday in June of the school year in which they have their sixteenth birthday.
There are legal restrictions on the type of work that children can do, and the number of hours per day and week (and times of day) when they can do that work.
It is important to note that if a child is working without a permit, they are being employed illegally and will not be covered by employers’ liability insurance.
More information can be found in the sections below. In addition, there are the Worcestershire County Council Byelaws on the Employment of Children 1999, and a summary of the working time regulations that apply to children.
Children in entertainment
Children taking part in performances is governed by different acts and regulations. This legislation applies to all children from birth until they leave school.
To contact the Child Employment and Entertainment Officer please ring 01905 845640 or email CEE@worcestershire.gov.uk
If you wish to make an anonymous report of any concerns regarding a child in employment or entertainment please go to the NNCEE Website.