Employment of Children - Permit and Bye-Laws
A booklet is available for pupils, parents and employers which
is intended to be a summary of the bye-laws relating to the
employment of children within Perth & Kinross. It refers
to young people under 16. A copy of this
booklet [pdf 241KB] or a full copy of the bye-laws is available
from either the Council Secretary, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH or
the Executive Director (Education & Children's Services),
Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD.
Adherence to the bye-laws is the responsibility of the
employer. Failure to do so can lead to a fine of up to
£1000.
Employers should note that the bye-laws require them to complete an
application for each child who is employed by them. This should be
done within one week of the child beginning work.
Application forms [pdf 63KB] are available for downloading
from this page, or from Education & Children's Services, Pullar
House.
Legally Education & Children's Services must receive the
following information from employers:
- Employer's name and address
- Name, address and date of birth of the child
- Hours and days to be worked and type of jobs to be done
- The place of employment
- A statement of the child's fitness to work
- Parental approval
- Details about the school the child attends
- Statement that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried
out by the employer
Education & Children's Services will issue a permit
if:
- The proposed employment is lawful
- The child's health, welfare or education will not be
affected
- The child is fit to undertake the work
If criteria are not met a letter is sent out stating this.
A medical examination may be necessary to ensure that the child
is well enough to do the job. Education & Children's Services
would make arrangements for this through the parent.
The permit will state:
- Name and address and date of birth of the child
- Hours and days to be worked
- Occupation in which the child is employed
- Details of the tasks involved.
- Place of employment
The child can be employed only in accordance with the details on
the permit. This can be changed if the employer requests it
in writing, within one week of the change of duties.
The permit can be withdrawn if Education Children's Services thinks
that:
- The child is being unlawfully employed
- The child's health, welfare or education are being
affected.
A copy of the permit is sent to the school. Staff in schools, as
officers of the Council, are entitled to ask to see the permit for
inspection if they feel that a young person is working outwith the
permitted hours or
types of employment [pdf 22KB].
The child must produce the permit for inspection when asked by an
officer of the Council or a police officer.
No child shall be employed:
- Before the close of school hours on any school day
- After 8 am on any school day
- Before 7 am or after 7 pm on any day
- For more than 2 hours on any school day
- For more than 4 hours in any day without a rest break of one
hour
- Without having two consecutive weeks without employment in any
one year
- If under 15, for more than 5 hours a day or 25 hours a week on
any non-school day/week
- If over 15, for more than 8 hours a day or 35 hours a week on
any non-school day/week
- For more than 2 hours on a Sunday.
