It is illegal to employ anyone under the age of thirteen.
There are restrictions on when you can work, the number of hours you can work and also the type of work you can do.

The following apply to young people between thirteen and the official school leaving age.

1. It is an offence for anyone to employ you before 7.00 in the morning and after 7.00 at night.

2. It is an offence to employ you to do work for more the one hour before you start school in the morning or before the end of the school day, on any day when you should be at school.

3. You can only work for a maximum of two hours on any school day.

4. it is an offence to employ you in any occupation likely to be harmful to your health or education. Your employer or someone who is thinking of employing you must assess all the risks and must take action to remove or reduce those risks.

5. You can only work in the following jobs

(A) the delivery of newspapers, milk, groceries, foodstuffs, flowers or drapery goods.

(B) office work, except in a place that sells alcohol or is licensed for betting or gambling.

(C) hotel or catering work, except in the kitchen of a place that sells alcohol.

(D) shop assistant, except in a place that sells alcohol or is licensed for betting or gambling.

(E) domestic work.

(F) light agricultural work for your parents.

6. You need you parents consent before starting a job.

7. You can only work for two hours on Sundays.

8. On any day you are working, you are entitled to three hours rest between 7.00 in the morning and 7.00 at night

9. There is no minimum wage for children in employment, but you should be paid a reasonable wage for the work you are doing.

Children & Young People Under 15

During school holidays, you are not allowed to work more than 5 hours per day, Monday to Saturday, up to a maximum of 27 hours per week.

On a Saturday during term time, you can work up to 5 hours.

If you work continuously, Monday - Friday you are entitled to a one hour break (after 4 hours on Saturday).

Young People Aged 15 until School Leaving Age

During school holidays, you are not allowed to work more than 7 hours per day, up to a maximum of 37 hours per week.

On a Saturday during term time, you can work up to 7 hours.

If you work continuously, Monday - Saturday you are entitled to a one hour break.

Your local Education and Library Board is responsible for ensuring that employers treat children they employ properly.

Your employer must notify the Education and Library Board that they have employed you. They must fill in a form and send it to the Education and Library Board. This will include your details and the details of the job you will be doing. They must also submit a letter from a doctor stating that the job will not be harmful to you.

Once this information has been checked the education and Library Board will issue an employment card and the employer holds on to this as long as you work in that job.

If you feel that you have unfairly treated in a job you should contact the Children's Law Centre who will be able to help you with this and any other issues you may have.