Work guidelines for young people & their parents
You want to work so what work can you do?
Derbyshire County Council has drawn up new "Employment of Children" bye-laws following recent Government changes to the law. They are not intended to stop you from earning pocket money. But we are keen to protect you from being exploited, or from damaging your health, well-being or education while you are working.
If you are 16 or under (by the last Friday in June) and of compulsory school age you should have a work permit issued by the county council.
The work permit specifies the task, hours, days and where you can work.
If you are 13 you are only allowed to do light work in the following areas:
- Agricultural or horticultural businesses
- newspaper delivery
- shop work including shelf stacking
- hairdressing salons
- office work
- cafes or restaurants
- riding stables, kennels and catteries
If you are under 13 years old you cannot work.
If you are 14 or over you can do light work which:
- Is not harmful to your safety, health and development
- does not interfere with your school day.
What work can't you do?
No young person − of any age − can work in a:
- Cinema, theatre or disco, dance hall or night club
- commercial kitchen
- slaughter house, butchery or prepare meat for sale
- fairground, amusement arcade or premises with game and gambling machines.
And you can't
- Collect or sort refuse
- work more than three metres off the ground or with harmful chemicals
- work where there is access to adult material unsuitable for children
- be responsible for the personal needs of residents in care or nursing homes
- sell or deliver alcohol (except in sealed containers)
- deliver milk or fuel oils
- collect money, sell or canvass door to door or by telephone.
Can you work at any time?
No. You can't work during school hours. Under new European Legislation you can't work more than 12 hours in any one week during term time.
Neither can you work:
- Before 7am or after 7pm on any day
or for more than:
- Two hours on a school day or Sundays
- five hours on any other day (eight hours if 15 years or over)
- 25 hours a week (35 hours if 15 years or over) during school holidays
- four hours without a break of one hour.
And you must have two consecutive work-free weeks each year.
How do you get a work permit?
Your employer must notify us within a week of you starting work. They must tell us:
- their name and address
- your name, address and date of birth
- your proposed working hours and days
- your place of work
- the name of your school
- that risk and safety assessments have been carried out.
And they must have your parents' consent and their agreement that you are fit to work.
Can the permit be changed?
Yes. Your employers can request amendments from time to time.
Can the permit be taken away?
Yes. We can take the work permit away if we believe:
- The work you are doing is illegal
- that your health, well being or education is suffering.
If you do not have a work permit you may not be insured against accidents.
We will issue a work permit if we are satisfied that:
- The work is legal
- your well being and education will not be jeopardised.
A medical examination may be required before a permit is issued.
If asked you must show your permit to police or county council officials on request.
If you would like some more information please contact your nearest area education office on:
| Ripley | 01773 744741 |
| Chesterfield | 01246 204851 |
| High Peak and Derbyshire Dales | 01298 26121 |
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)