In the UK there are strict laws to protect children from exploitation and to make sure that
work does not get in the way of their education. The earliest legal age for children to do
paid work is set at 14. There are a few exceptions that allow children under the age of 14
to work legally and these include specific work in performing, modelling, sport and
agriculture. In order to do any of this work, it is necessary to get a licence from the local
authority.

By law, children aged 14 to 16, can only do light work. There are particular jobs they are
not allowed to do and these include delivering milk, selling alcohol, cigarettes or
medicines, working in a kitchen or a chip shop, working with dangerous machinery or
doing any other kind of work that might cause them any kind of injury. Children who
work have to get an employment card from their local authority and a medical certificate
of fitness for work.

The law sets out clear limits for the working hours and times for 14-16-year-old children.
Every child must have at least two consecutive weeks a year during the school holidays
when they do not work. They cannot work:

For more than 4 hours without a one-hour rest break
For more than 2 hours on any school day or a Sunday
Before 7 AM or after 7 PM
For more than one hour before school starts
For more than 12 hours in any school week

15 and 16-year-olds can work slightly more hours than 14-year-olds on a weekday when
they are not at school, on Saturdays and in school holidays. The local authority has a
duty to check that the law is obeyed. If it believes that a young person is working
illegally, it can order that the young person is no longer employed.

Check that you understand:

Maternity and paternity rights

Entitlement to maternity leave and pay for both part time and full time workers
Paternity leave entitlement
The importance of following the right procedures and providing sufficient notice

Children at work

Minimum age for starting work
Jobs 14 to 16-year-olds are not allowed to do
The maximum hours allowed
Requirements: medical certificate and employment card
The local authority´s responsibility for protecting children

New mothers and fathers

Women who are expecting a baby have a legal right to time off work for antenatal care.
They are also entitled 26 weeks maternity leave. These rights apply to full-time and parttime
workers and it makes no difference how long the woman has worked for her
employer. It is, however, important to follow the correct procedures and to give the
employer enough notice about taking maternity leave. Some women may also me entitled
to maternity pay but this depends on how long they have been working for their
employer.

Fathers who have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks are entitled to paternity
leave, which provides up to two weeks time off from work, with pay, when the child is
born. It is important to tell your employer well in advance.

You can get advice and more information on maternity and paternity matters from the
personnel officer at work, your trade union representative or your local Citizens Advice
Bureau.

Childcare

It is Government policy to help people with childcare responsibilities to take up work.
Some employers can help with this.

British citizens can work in any country that is a member of the European Economic
Area (EEA). In general, they have the same employment rights as a citizen of that
country or state.

Check that you understand:

Equal rights

The categories covered by the law and exceptions
Equal job / equal pay regardless of gender
The different commissions working to promote equal opportunities
The grounds for sexual harassment complaints

At work

The importance of contracts of employment
The minimum wage and holiday entitlement
Information that has to be provided on pay slips

Tax

What is deducted from your earnings and why
The difference between being self-employed and employed
Where to get help if you need it when filling out forms
The purpose of National Insurance and what happens if you don´t pay enough
contributions
How you can get a National Insurance Number

Pensions

Who is entitled to a pension
What age men and women can get a pension
Health and safety

Employer and employee obligations

What to do if you have concerns about health and safety

Trade Unions

What they are and who can join

Losing your job

Where to go if you need advice on a problem at work
Possible reasons for dismissal
The role of Employment Tribunals
Who can help
The timescale for complaining
Entitlement to redundancy pay

Self-employment

Responsibility for keeping detailed records and paying tax and national insurance
The role of Business Link

Banks can give information and advice on setting up your own business and offer start-up
loans, which need to be repaid with interest. Government grants and other financial
support may be available. You can get details of these and advice on becoming selfemployed
from Business Link, a government-funded project for people starting or
running a business.

As soon as you become self-employed you should register yourself for tax and National
Insurance by ringing the HM Revenue and Customs telephone helpline for people who
are self-employed.

The government also runs work-based learning programmes which offer training for
people while they are at work. People receive a wage or an allowance and can attend
college for one day a week to get a new qualification.

You can find out more about the different government schemes, and the schemes in your
area, from Jobcentre Plus or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Most people who become unemployed can claim Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). This is
currently available for men aged 18-65 and women aged 18-60 who are capable of
working, available for work and trying to find work. Unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds
may not be eligible for Jobseekers Allowance but may be able to claim a Young Persons
Bridging Allowance (YPBA) instead. The local Jobcentre Plus can help you with claims.
You can get further information from the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Jobcentre Plus
website.

If you lose your job because the company you work for no longer needs someone for
your job, or cannot afford to employ you, you may be entitled to redundancy pay. The
amount of money you receive depends on the length of time you have been employed.
Again your trade union representative, a solicitor, a Law Centre or the Citizens Advice
Bureau can advise you.

An employee can be dismissed immediately for serious misconduct at work. Anyone who
cannot do their job properly, or is unacceptably late or absent from work, should be given
a warning by their employer. If their work, punctuality or attendance does not improve,
the employer can give them notice to leave their job.

It is against the law for employers to dismiss someone from work unfairly. If this happens
to you, or life at work is made so difficult that you feel you have to leave, you may be
able to get compensation if you take your case to an Employment Tribunal. This is a
court which specialises in employment matters. You normally only have three months to
make a complaint.

If you are dismissed from your job, it is important to get advice on your case as soon as
possible. You can ask for advice and information on your legal rights and the best action
to take from your trade union representative, a solicitor, a Law Centre or the Citizens
Advice Bureau.

If you have problems of any kind at work, speak to your supervisor, manager, trade union
representative or someone else with responsibility as soon as possible. If you need to take
any action, it is a good idea to get advice first. If you are a member of a trade union, your
representative will help. You can also contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB),
or Law Centre. The national Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
website gives information on your rights at work. ACAS also offers a national helpline.