Work permits for children age 13 - 16

Work permits are required for children to work for:
 

• hairdressing salons or barber shop
• shop work, including shelf stacking
• newspapers or magazine delivery or other printed materials, e.g. leaflets
• office work including receptionist
• café or restaurant i.e. waiting of tables or serving food (children cannot work in a kitchen)
• caring for animals i.e. riding stables, vets, pet shops
• light domestic work i.e. hotel or guest house (cleaning, house-keeping duties)
• agricultural or horticultural work.

This isn’t a complete list. Other types of work may be considered suitable.

The employer must complete a risk assessment before a child can start work.

Children are only allowed to work a set number of hours:

• School days - up to two hours per day, a maximum of 12 hours per week. Employment must be out of school hours and a maximum of one hour can be worked before school.
• Weekends:
  • Saturday – a child aged 13 to 14 can work a maximum of five hours and a child aged 15 to 16 can work a maximum of eight hours.
  • Sunday – a child can work for a maximum of two hours.  
• School holidays (includes weekends) – a child aged 13 to 14 can work up to 25 hours a week (max five hours per day) and a child aged 15 to 16 can work up to 35 hours a week (max eight hours per day). If a child has worked for four hours they must have a break of one hour, all children employed are permitted a two week holiday free from work each year, within school holidays.
• There is no minimum wage for a child under 16 years.

Apply to us if the child will be working in Manchester. If you’re not sure check which council.

Please make sure you have the following documents as you will be asked to provide copies to support your application:

• Safeguarding Policy
• Risk Assessment

Warning: It is your responsibility to read and fully understand the statutory requirements for this licence.  Failure to comply with the regulations may lead to the licence being revoked and/or prosecution.
 

• Children and Young persons Act 1963
• The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014 
• Child Employment Byelaws

The NNCEE website provides information and support on applying. You can also download our handbooks.

• Copy of child's passport or birth certificate; and
• Parent/carer permission form

You must apply at least 21 days before the work starts or a permit may not be granted.

Applications will be processed within ten working days.