Child employment and the law

Children are allowed to work for a number of hours in a job before and after school and/or at weekends, depending on their age. The restrictions are determined by local bye-laws.

Rules and regulations

• Our leaflets – child employment guidelines, for employers and young people
• Every Child Matters – guidance for employers and parents
• DirectGov – child employment, a summary of the rules

If your child is working

Their employer should complete the following form:

• Form – child employment, notification by employer

Enquiries

For further details about the types of employment your child can take on and for how many hours, please contact our Child Employment Officers.