If you are 13 years old or over you can do paid work. You can work before and after school and/or at weekends depending on your age.
What times may I work?
School days
Either 1 hour between 7am and 8am + 1 hour
between close of school and 7pm or 2 hours
between the close of school and 7pm
Saturdays and holidays
Aged: 13 & 14 years
5 hours between 7am & 7pm
Maximum of 25 hours per week
Aged: 15 - until the end of Year 11
8 hours between 7am & 7pm
Maximum of 35 hours a week
Sundays
Maximum 2 hours between 7am & 7pm
* School term time - you may only work a maximum of 12 hours per week (this includes weekends)
Holidays and Breaks
Your employer must ensure that you have two consecutive weeks free from work during the school holidays each year. You must have an hour’s break after 4 hours continuous work.
Remember! school work comes first
Don’t be late for school, so tired you fall asleep in lessons, or so busy you can’t complete homework properly on time. If your school work suffers, you will not be allowed to continue working.
What kind of work may I do?
At 13, you may only do the following:
- deliver newspapers etc.
- shop work
- office work
- work in a hairdressing salon
- wash cars by hand
- work in a cafe or restaurant clearing tables etc (not in a kitchen)
- light work in riding stables
- domestic work in hotels etc
- light agricultural and gardening work (machinery not to be used)
