Children Who Work
To ensure that school-aged children who work are doing so
safely, this year’s annual ‘Child Employment Fortnight’ takes place
from 28th March – 8th April.
The initiative outlines the importance of completing work permit
applications and risk assessments to safeguard both young workers
and their employers.
The law allows a young person to be employed
from 13. A paper round is the most popular job for 43% of children,
followed by working in a shop at 18%.
Research carried out by National Network for
Child Employment and Entertainment (NNCEE) discovered that most
employers were unaware of the legislation regarding the employment
of school-aged children and the legal requirement for a work
permit. The number of children and young people injured per year in
the work place goes largely unreported, especially if the
individual is employed illegally.
Cllr David Sawyer, portfolio holder for
Children’s Services, at Bedford Borough Council, said: “We want to
educate employers on the importance of this legislation and avoid
risking the safety of young people. Making sure that young people
are properly trained and supervised whilst at work can serve to
prevent serious accidents. While young people can benefit from
part-time working we must not allow them to be vulnerable to
exploitation. I fully support this initiative in raising much
needed awareness.”
To find out more about ‘Child Employment
Fortnight’ and further information on Child Employment Law,
search our website under ‘child employment’.