Child employment - application procedure

Before employing a child the employer must send written notification to the local authority using an employment permit application form.

Part 1 - employer completes, signs and dates the Child employment application form (Word doc, 40 KB).
Part 2 - parent/carer checks information to be correct, signs and dates the form.
Completed form is returned to child.employment@swansea.gov.uk.
On receipt of the completed form, the local authority has a duty to satisfy itself that the employment is lawful, and that the child's health and welfare will not be put at risk.
As part of the application process, it must be clear that any proposed part-time work will not have a detrimental effect on the child's education. Therefore, we undertake an attendance check as standard on all applicants. Please be aware that the local authority will contact the child's school if their attendance is below 90%. This is to determine whether an agreement can be reached between the licensing authority, parent, and school as to whether the permit should be issued in the best interests of the child.
In addition, the authority is assured that the child is fit to undertake the work for which they are to be employed.
A permit will then be sent to the employer including an identification photo of the child. A permit will also be sent to the child.
The child must be able to produce the identification permit during employment for inspection.
The permit will state the details from the employment application form. The child may only be employed in accordance with these details, should these details need to be changed please contact child.employment@swansea.gov.uk for amendment.
We may inspect the workplace and speak to the employer.
The local authority may also at any time revoke a child's employment permit if it believes that the child is being unlawfully employed or that their health, welfare, or ability to take full advantage of their education has suffered or is likely to suffer as a result of being employed.

The law says

Prohibited employment for all children of compulsory school age:

No child of any age may be employed:

On any day that they are absent from school by reason of ill-health.
In cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club, except in connection with a performance given entirely by children.
To sell or serve alcohol, except in sealed containers.
To deliver milk.
To deliver fuel oils.
In a commercial kitchen.
To collect or sort refuse.
In any work which is more than three metres above ground level or, in the case of internal work, more than three metres above floor level.
In employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological, or chemical agents.
To collect payment or to sell or canvas door to door.
In work involving exposure to adult materials or in situations which are for this reason unsuitable for children.
In telephone sales.
In slaughterhouse or in that part of any butcher's shop or other premises connected with the killing of livestock, butchery, or preparation of carcasses or meat for sale.
As an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusements arcade or in any other premises used for the purpose of public amusement by means of automatic machines, games of chance or skills or similar devices.
In personal care of residents of any residential care home or nursing home.

Permitted employment of children aged 14 or over:

A child aged 14 or over may be employed only in light work.

Permitted employment of children aged 13:

A child aged 13 may not be employed except in 'light work' in one or more of the following specified categories:

Agricultural or horticultural.
Delivery of newspapers, journals, and other printed materials.
Shop work, including shelf-stacking.
Hairdressing salons.
Office work.
In café or restaurant.
In riding stables and boarding kennels / cattery.
Car washing by hand in a private residential setting.
Domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation.

Permitted hours of employment

Employment may only take place between 7.00am and 7.00pm.

All ages

Mondays to Saturdays - not before 7.00am or after 7.00pm.

Sundays - 2 hours only - not before 7.00am or after 11.00am.

School days - 1 hour before school and 1 hour after school OR 2 hours after school.

13-15 years

Saturdays and other school holidays - 5 hours maximum daily.

Not more than 25 hours per week.

15 years plus

Saturdays and other school holidays - 8 hours maximum daily.

Not more than 35 hours per week.

No child shall be employed for more than 4 hours without at least a 1 hour break of rest and recreation.

Every child must have at least 2 weeks' consecutive holiday per year.

Maximum of 12 hours work in any one week during term time.

Definitions

Employment - means 'assistance in any trade or occupation which is carried on for profit whether or not payment is received for that assistance'.

Light work - means work which is not likely to be harmful to the child's health, safety or educational development.

Child - for the purpose of the Byelaws the expression 'child' means a person who is of compulsory school age.

Compulsory school leaving age - there is only one school leaving date, and that is the last Friday of June of their final GCSE year (year 11). This applies to children who have their sixteenth birthday during that period. this is the only date when children stop being of compulsory school age.

Risk assessments - the employer has a lawful duty to undertake an appropriate risk assessment which considers the child's age, work environment, experience, and ability (Management of Health and Safety at Work Act 1999).

The authority may require the child to be medically examined before issuing a child employment permit.