What are the terms and conditions of child employment?

• Contracts- all employers should provide a statement of the employees’ terms and conditions within 2 months of starting work. However, it is very rare for a child to be given a written contract.

• Holiday pay- children are not entitled to holiday pay.

• Sick pay- if a child is working under a contract and this contract provides that they will receive sick pay; this will apply irrespective of their age. However, if they do not have a contract of employment, they are unlikely to receive sick pay as children under the age of 16 are not entitled to statutory sick pay.

• Income tax- the amount of income tax that a person will pay, depends on the amount that they earn. Each person is entitled to earn a certain amount before tax; this is referred to as their ‘personal allowance’. However, a child that is still at school is unlikely to pay income tax as they will not usually earn beyond this figure.

• Trade unions- many trade unions will accept a child of any age once they commence employment; however, this should be checked with individual trade unions before the child attempts to join.

• Insurance- providing that the employer is aware of the child’s employment, then the child will be covered by the employer’s liability insurance.

• Child protection- if an employers normal duties include caring for children or if a substantial part of their duties include training or supervising children under the age of 16, the employers must undergo a criminal records check.

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