Childcare and children at work
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 to at least 26 weeks’ maternity leave. These rights apply to full-time and part-time 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 be 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, your local Citizens Advice Bureau, the Citizens Advice Bureau website www.adviceguide.org.uk or the government website www.direct.gov.uk .
Childcare
It is Government policy to help people with childcare responsibilities to take up work. Some employers can help with this. The ChildcareLink website www.childcarelink.gov.uk gives information about different types of childcare and registered childminders in your area, or telephone 08000 96 02 96.
Hours and time for children at work
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.a.m. or after 7.p.m.
• 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. You can find more information on the TUC website, www.worksmart.org.uk .
February 18th, 2009 at 11:27 am
I think people need to be careful with the information on this website – i’ve already found a few mistakes (for eg, it was mentioned here that it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under 18 – when it should be under 16).
February 18th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Make sure you are reading the right edition of the book; the minimum age for purchasing tobacco is increased to 18 and you can find this change in the latest edition of the book.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I believe the latest edition is the one published in 2007? At least that was the edition mentioned in the official Life in UK website and TSO website, as well as the edition currently being sold in bookstores.
Even if the law has been changed, shouldn’t we still stick to what’s on the study materials?
February 19th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Sorry to be pointing this out again – on the “update” page of the official study materials, it says that even though the law has been changed to 18 years old, if we’re asked this question in the test, the correct answer (for the purpose of the test) is still 16 years old.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
The latest copy I have is the ‘Fourth Impression’ of the second edition and this edition clearly states the law change on page 31:
From 1 October 2007 it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 years old.
You have mentioned about official study material, can you please check what impression of the second edition do you have?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Great job!!!
Thanks Admin.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:41 am
In your answers:The earliest legal age for children to do paid work is 13.
Read more about this on page 121 paragraph 5 of the study guide or page 84 paragraph 5 of the Home Office handbook.
I found that it is 14. Is it a mistake?
November 28th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Hi Admin,
I also have the question about the earliest legal age for children to do paid work. Would you mind to clarify whether it is 14 or 13?
Many thanks,
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
The age is 14
February 26th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
pls can you clarify the age confusion that wether it is age 16 /18 for buying tobacco &13/ 14 for paid work now thanks
March 26th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
lthough the age at which children may generally be employed is set at 14 years, both in European and domestic legislation, the restricted employment of 13 year olds can be permitted on a local basis. This, however, is expected to an exception rather than a general rule.
June 13th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Hi, Admin. Thanks for running such a great website. I found this site very helpful and based most of my studying on your study materials.
One question though. I thought the info found on this site was based on the latest official book. Hoever, in my “Official Practice Questions”(4th impression Oct 2009), which I believe to be the latest, on p15 it says “Generally, the earliest legal age for children to do paid work is… (Answer 13)”. As I regard this question to be a frequently asked one, could you kindly advice on which answer to go for should I have to choose…13 or 14?
Many thanks in advance.
July 9th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Just want to say great job on this site!
I do have the latest official Home Office Handbook and the earliest legal age for children to work is 13 and for buying tobacco you cannot be under 18
August 26th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Answer is 13, 18
Thanks Admin