City backs child workers protection campaign

Children need better legal protection to prevent them being killed or injured at work, according to a campaign being supported by Manchester City Council and TV soap opera stars.

Child actors from Coronation Street and Emmerdale have helped spread the safety message by taking part in a campaign DVD Every child matters - even when at work.

Using real life stories of a young boy killed while doing his paper round and a 14-year-old boy seriously injured while at work, the DVD highlights the need to change the law on children in part-time work and the entertainment industry.

William Roach MBE - Ken Barlow in Coronation Street -spoke at a House of Lords event run by the National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment.

He said: 'Children enjoy the freedom and responsibilities working gives them, both on the stage or screen or doing a paper round or shift at a local shop. Yet worryingly not all of them are working safely.

"Government must modernise current laws, to ensure all children have a work permit or licence to work legally. Children must be protected from abuse, irresponsible employers and unsafe practices."

Councillor Sheila Newman, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Children's Services, said: "Manchester is supporting this campaign because the law relating to child employment needs improvement to help prevent tragic accidents that lead to the death or injury of children.

"One child hurt at work is one too many so we all need to work together to show our commitment to the principle that Every Child Matters , which now underpins all services for children and young people.

Key facts on child employment

• ALL children working must have a work permit from the Council. Permits are free.
• It is the employer's responsibility to get a work permit but parents/children may take an application form with them when seeking work as this speeds up the process and makes it easier for the employer.
• Children under 13 are not allowed to work, except for children involved in modelling, acting or sporting activities.
• Children 13 to 16 may do light work such as delivering newspapers (but not milk), shop work, stocking shelves or cleaning but not during school hours.
• In school term-time , children 13 to 16 may work a maximum of 12 hours a week but not before 7am or after 7pm.
• In school holidays children 13 and 14 may work up to 25 hours a week (maximum 5 hours a day); children 15 and 16 up to 35 hours a week (maximum 8 hours a day). ALL children must have two weeks of school holidays free from work each year.
• Children who are above school leaving age do not need a work permit.
• Employers who employ their own children need a work permit for them, even if they don't pay them.
• Work permit application forms and more detailed information about the rules for working children can be obtained from your local Child Employment Office (for Manchester City Council the telephone number is 684 1908).
• You can also get information from schools, from Connexions or by visiting www.direct.gov.uk and looking up Child Employment.
• The National network for Child Employment and Entertainment also have detailed information on their website www.bucksinfo.net/nncee

Media contact:

Martin Hellewell, tel 0161 234 3729