Answers to some frequent questions
Question 1:- What does "employed" for a child
mean?
Answer:- A child is employed if they work for
a person or company who makes a profit out of their business
irrespective of whether thery are paid or not.
Question 2:- Do I need a work permit if
my child is helping out with the family business and not getting
paid?
Answer:- Yes.
Question 3:- My child has just received a
National Insurance Card and is 16. Are they exempt from child
employment regulations?
Answer:- No. They are still considered
children of compulsory school age until the last Friday in
June of Year 11
Question 4:- Can a work permit be issued before
a job is found.
Answer:- No. This is because details of
the employer and the job have to be on the work permit.
Question 5:- My child has more than one
job. Will the work permit they already have cover them for
the additional work?
Answer:- No. They need a separate
work permit for each job they do, but you must write on the
application that they have another job.
Question 6:- My child is a babysitter for
some friends. Do they need a permit?
Answer:- No. Permits are not
required for babysitting.
Question 7:- The byelaws state that
children are not allowed to work in a "commercial kitchen."
Does that mean they cannot work in a restaurant?
Answer:- No. If the they are not
allowed access to the cooking area and can be kept away from it
they can work in a restaurant.
Question 8:- Is there a Minimum Wage for
children who work?
Answer:- No. The National Minimum
Wage only applies from the age of 16 who have officially left
compulsory education.
Question 9:- Can children be charged tax
on their earnings?
Answer:- In theory they are liable to
tax, but in practice their earnings are usually well below the PAYE
tax threshold. However, the employer needs to keep records of
how much and when they are paid.
Question 10:- I am only
a small employer. Do I need to keep records of the risk
assessments I undertake concerning young people?
Answer:- It may be good practice to do
so, but there is no legal requirement to record a risk assessment
if you employ less than five people. To find out more about
risk assessments see this website.
Question11:- I have a family business and
only employ my children on a short term occasional
basis. Do I need to undertake a risk assessment?.
Answer:- No, providing the work is not
regarded as being harmful, damaging or dangerous.
Question 12:- My child lives in
Peterborough but has a job in Crowland, Lincolnshire. Where
would the child employment permit come from?
Answer:- A permit should be obtained
from the local education authority in whose area the
employment takes place. So in this case it would be
Lincolnshire. The address to send the permit would be on the
neighbouring authority's website, but if there is any difficulty
please contact us and we will tell you where to send the
form.