UK Child workers. .

[geoffrey]

A friend has discovered a 14-year-old boy legally working part time in a superstore who is paid £1.50 per hour and that includes Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday and evening work. This is exploitation of child workers but is such low payment legal? She also discovered a 14 year old girl working with just one man in an upstairs store. The man was perfectly OK but there were no child-protection checks made. Is this legal?

[Johnboy007]

Re: UK Child workers. .

Anyone under 16 is not entitled to the minimum wage.
No one under school leaving age (see under heading General rules on employment) can be employed in work other than light work. You are not allowed to do work which is likely to be harmful to your safety, health, development, or work that will affect your attendance at school or participation in work experience. You are not allowed to work:-

• in a factory or in construction work
• in transport
• in a mine
• on a registered merchant ship.

The local authority where you live may also have some extra rules, called by-laws, about the employment of children and young people in your area. You should check with your local authority if you want to find out what these are. By-laws authorising children and young people to work in street trading must say which days, which hours, and the places where, they may work.
Employers who want to employ children or young people under school leaving age are required to get a permit from their local authority. The permit must be signed by both the employer and one of your parents.
There are some extra rules about the employment of children under 14. If you are under 14, you are not allowed to work at all except in the following types of work:-

• to take part in sport, advertising, modelling, plays, films, television or other entertainment. The employer must apply for a licence from the local authority
• to do odd jobs for a parent, relative or neighbour
• to do babysitting – see under heading Babysitting.

However, children of 13 or above may be able to do some other types of work, depending on the by-laws of the local authority in their area. For example, the by-laws may say that children of 13 and above in your area can do a paper-round, or that you can do light work which is not likely to be harmful to your health, safety or development.


If you are aged 13 years and over, but under school leaving age you may not be employed:

• before the end of school hours on any day you have to go to school
• for more than two hours on any day you have to go to school
• before 7.00am or after 7.00pm on any day
• for more than two hours on a Sunday
• in street trading.

[wales01man]

Re: UK Child workers. .

If this is true name the Store

[Johnboy007]

Re: UK Child workers. .

Hi Wales,
The boy could be working legally in a superstore and for the amount shown as wages.
Providing he was working within the legally permitted hours.
But it would be interesting to find out what store it was....

[geoffrey]

Re: UK Child workers. .

I do not know the name of the store but it is an independent 'cheapie' store in North Birmingham.

[geoffrey]

Re: UK Child workers. .

The local authority dept were informed of this case around the same time as I placed it here. They were slow to act but stated that nothing was actually illegal but they considered that the child-worker was being exploited. They withdrew the stores permission to employ part time child workers. Child got a similar job the following day at a small private store at £4 per hour with enhanced payment for weekend work. National children's organisation taking matter up with the government. Happy ending.

[Johnboy007]

Re: UK Child workers. .

Great news Geoffrey, thanks for letting us know.....