Youth Employment – Criteria and applying for a work permit
This information is correct as of 14th June 2023. Please check bylaws-leaflet-child-work-permits.pdf (hertfordshire.gov.uk) for up-to-date laws
Insurance
If you chose to employ a young person, they should be covered by your employer’s liability insurance. Always remember to check that you have the relevant employer’s liability insurance, this is required for all employment of children, including work experience.
Working hours – what the law says
Children are not legally allowed to work:
- Without an employment permit issued by the education department of the local council, if this is required by local bylaws
- In places like a factory or industrial site
- During school hours
- Before 7am or after 7pm
- For more than one hour before school (unless local bylaws allow it)
- For more than 4 hours without taking a break of at least 1 hour
- In any work that may be harmful to their health, well-being or education
- Without having a 2-week break from any work during the school holidays in each calendar year
Term time rules
During term time children can legally work a maximum of 12 hours a week.
This includes:
- A maximum of 2 hours on school days and Sundays
- A maximum of 5 hours on Saturdays for 13 to 14-year-olds, or 8 hours for 15 to 16-year-olds
School holiday rules
During school holidays 13 to 14-year-olds are only allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours a week.
This includes:
- A maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
- A maximum of 2 hours on Sunday
During school holidays 15 to 16-year-olds can only work a maximum of 35 hours a week.
This includes:
- A maximum of 8 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
- A maximum of 2 hours on Sunday
Local rules on the types of work children can do:
- Local bylaws list the jobs that children cannot do. If a job is on this list, a child under the minimum school leaving age cannot do this work.
- Local bylaws may also have other restrictions on working hours, conditions of work and the type of employment.
- Contact your local council’s education department or education welfare service for more information.
Checking the local bylaws and applying for a work permit:
- You will need to read the bylaws in addition to the government law above:
- You will need to apply for a child work permit below:
- Check that the young employees won’t need a performance license for the work they will be doing:
- Apply for a child’s performance licence | Hertfordshire County Council