Types of work and hours
Before a child starts work, check which types of work they can do and the hours they can work.
Work that children are allowed to do
Children aged 13 to 16 years can undertake light work in the areas below, all of which need a permit:
- Agricultural or horticultural work
- Delivering newspapers, journals and other printed material
- Shop work, including stacking shelves
- Work in hairdressing salons
- Office based work
- Washing cars by hand in a private residential setting
- Work in cafés or restaurants (but not in the kitchens)
- Work at riding stables
- Domestic work in hotels or other places offering accommodation
Work that children are not allowed to do
The Leicestershire Byelaws on the Employment of Children gives a full list of places children are not allowed to work, or jobs they are not allowed to do:
Prohibited employment
No child of any age may be employed:
- In a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club, except in connection with a performance given entirely by children
- To sell or deliver 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 3 metres above ground level or, in the case of internal work, more than 3 metres above floor level
- In employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
- To collect money or to sell or canvass door-to-door, except under the supervision of an adult
- In work involving exposure to adult material or in situations which are for this reason otherwise unsuitable for children
- In telephone sales
- In any slaughterhouse or in that part of any butcher’s shop or other premises connected with the killing of livestock, butchery, or the preparation of carcasses or meat for sale
- As an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade or in any other premises used for the purpose of public amusement by means of automatic machines, games of chance or skill or similar devices
- In the personal care of residents of any residential care home or nursing home unless under the supervision of a responsible adult
- Industrial undertakings including manufacturing, factory premises and handling goods in a warehouse
This does not prevent children taking part in performances under the provisions of a licence granted in accordance with the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, and the associated regulations.
If you need further guidance or to make an enquiry about child employment, use our online contact form.
Babysitting for family, friends and neighbours is outside of the child employment regulations, so does not need a permit.
Hours children can work
General rules for all children
- Children under 13 are not allowed to work at all
- Children cannot work before 7am, or after 7pm on any day
- Children cannot work for more than 2 hours on a school day or Sundays
- Term time: Children cannot work during school hours
- School holidays: Children must have at least 2 consecutive weeks off
- Children must be given at least a 1 hour break after every 4 hours of work. Employers may offer additional breaks if they wish.
| Day | Term time | School holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays |
No more than 2 hours per day |
5 hours per day |
| Saturdays | 5 hours per day | 5 hours per day |
| Sundays | 2 hours per day | 2 hours per day |
| Max. per week | 12 hours per week | 25 hours per week |
| Day | Term time | School holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday | No more than 2 hours per day (1 hour before and 1 hour after school, or 2 hours after school) |
8 hours per day |
| Saturday | 8 hours per day | 8 hours per day |
| Sunday | 2 hours per day | 2 hours per day |
| Max. per week | 12 hours per week | 35 hours per week |