Children and young people over the age of 13 are allowed to work part time; after school, at weekends or during school holidays. A child is employed when they help in a profit-making trade or business, whether or not they are paid for the work. This includes children working for their family's business. They must be registered with us to work and will be issued with a work permit.
Our Child Employment Officer works with employers, parents, school and other agencies to ensure that young people who are at work are doing so safely and legally and without detriment to their education.
There are restrictions depending on age including the number of hours they can work and the type of employment they can do.
Employers must apply for a work permit. Any employer who allows a child of school age to work, without obtaining a work permit, is breaking the law and could be prosecuted.
Please refer to our Child Employment The Essential Guide, available to download below.
An employer check is carried out on every new employer to establish suitability of proposed employment. This may be carried out at the premises by the Child Employment Officer who will inspect the premises to ensure they are suitable for the child to work in and the employment is permitted under the byelaws. To request a visit email Child.Employment@dudley.gov.uk
Note: If employment is permitted, to be able to register children for employment you will need to sign up to the Code of Practice (read policy below). This is a policy for employers across the Dudley Borough, to support a common approach with the Local Authority across the area in the employment of children.
In addition you will be asked to:
Complete the Code of PracticeAgreement form and the Employer Personal Details form. The forms can be emailed to child.employment@dudley.gov.uk or post to School Attendance and Education Support Service, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Council House, Priory Road, Dudley, DY1 1HF
Apply to the council for a work permit for each child you want to employ within seven days of the child starting work with you. Work permits are free and the application process is not complicated. You must apply to the Local Authority where the child will work. If you are unsure of the area, please input the postcode into this website https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council and it will give you the name of the Local Authority
Follow the law on working hours for children and local byelaws set by the council on the types of work that children can and can't be employed to do
Carry out a risk assessment which takes into account the child's age and maturity
Tell the child's parents about any risks and measures put in place to protect children from these
The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations, 1997 require employers to carry out an appropriate risk assessment, before a child is employed. This should be a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of the young person to which he or she is exposed whilst at work.
Health & Safety law recognises that young persons in the workplace are particularly vulnerable and that extra precautions may be needed due to their limited experience, their possible lack of physical abilities and their poor awareness of risks.
The key findings of the risk assessment and the control measures introduced must be reported to parents.
Young people volunteering in certain environments require a work permit from the local authority if they are 'contributing to a business carried out for profit'. This can apply even if the young person is not being paid.
It also applies even if the profit is used to fund charitable works. For example, a young person volunteering in a charity shop would require a permit. Equally, if a young person is volunteering in a restaurant this would require a permit.
Volunteers must be over 13 years of age and must carry out the role within the permitted hours allowed by law.
If you already have young people volunteering for you, who you think may require a permit, then please complete an application form as soon as possible.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
A permit is not required, as all checks are in place by the D of E Assessor. If you decide to offer the young person a voluntary or paid job after they have completed the voluntary work for the D of E Award, then you will need to apply for a permit.
If you are unsure whether a young person requires a permit to volunteer for your organisation or would like further information, please contact the Child Employment Officer: child.employment@dudley.gov.uk
