Campaign highlights some Wokingham young people are not working within the law
Wokingham Borough Council joined four other local authorities in the south east region to take part in Child Employment Week (August 6 to 13) and found that a number of young people were working illegally in the borough.
During the week, the Wokingham council’s child employment officer Joanne Booth made extra visits to employers to make sure that children and young people working during the summer holidays were doing so safely and within the law. She visited 59 employers and found that of the 37 children working at them, 32 of those were doing so illegally.
There are a number of rules that apply to children and young people working before they reach school leaving age. A child employment permit is needed and an application form needs to be signed by parents or carers and the employer before a child or young person can start work.
During Wokingham Child Employment Week, it was found that the majority of the 32 cases were deemed illegal as child employment cards had not been sought, mainly due to people not being aware of the legislation. Of these, nine cases need further investigation, whilst the other children now have employment cards. The council will continue to make regular spot checks on employers and follow up the cases of illegal employment, in order to protect the safety and well being of the children employed.
Joanne Booth, child employment officer at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “The child employment permits are one way in which the council can be aware that a child is being employed. The council is therefore able to monitor the hours they work and check that the work they do is not prohibited.
“The number of children being employed illegally in the Wokingham Borough was surprising. Child Employment Week clearly shows there is a need to further educate employers in the Borough of the rules around child employment. There is a need for strict compliance and the council will continue to raise awareness of the legislation with local companies.”
This year, Wokingham Child Employment Week aimed to identify where children and young people are working during the school holidays and to give employers appropriate information regarding the laws affecting the employment of schoolchildren as set out in the Children and Young Person’s Act 1933 to 1996 (as amended) and the Education Act 1944 to 1996.
Children and young people are permitted to work during the school holidays but they must not exceed working 35 hours a week. For those aged between 15 and 16, they can work eight hours a day (except Sundays) and for those aged 13 and 14, they can work up to five hours a day (except Sundays). On Sundays, children and young people can work no more than two hours between 7am and 7pm.
John Terry, head of safeguarding at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “This latest campaign is not about stopping children and young people from working, but making sure they do so within the law and safely. It is very important that local employers understand the law and what is expected of them. I am sure that many parents and carers will join the council in supporting this campaign.”
During the week, the Wokingham council’s child employment officer Joanne Booth made extra visits to employers to make sure that children and young people working during the summer holidays were doing so safely and within the law. She visited 59 employers and found that of the 37 children working at them, 32 of those were doing so illegally.
There are a number of rules that apply to children and young people working before they reach school leaving age. A child employment permit is needed and an application form needs to be signed by parents or carers and the employer before a child or young person can start work.
During Wokingham Child Employment Week, it was found that the majority of the 32 cases were deemed illegal as child employment cards had not been sought, mainly due to people not being aware of the legislation. Of these, nine cases need further investigation, whilst the other children now have employment cards. The council will continue to make regular spot checks on employers and follow up the cases of illegal employment, in order to protect the safety and well being of the children employed.
Joanne Booth, child employment officer at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “The child employment permits are one way in which the council can be aware that a child is being employed. The council is therefore able to monitor the hours they work and check that the work they do is not prohibited.
“The number of children being employed illegally in the Wokingham Borough was surprising. Child Employment Week clearly shows there is a need to further educate employers in the Borough of the rules around child employment. There is a need for strict compliance and the council will continue to raise awareness of the legislation with local companies.”
This year, Wokingham Child Employment Week aimed to identify where children and young people are working during the school holidays and to give employers appropriate information regarding the laws affecting the employment of schoolchildren as set out in the Children and Young Person’s Act 1933 to 1996 (as amended) and the Education Act 1944 to 1996.
Children and young people are permitted to work during the school holidays but they must not exceed working 35 hours a week. For those aged between 15 and 16, they can work eight hours a day (except Sundays) and for those aged 13 and 14, they can work up to five hours a day (except Sundays). On Sundays, children and young people can work no more than two hours between 7am and 7pm.
John Terry, head of safeguarding at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “This latest campaign is not about stopping children and young people from working, but making sure they do so within the law and safely. It is very important that local employers understand the law and what is expected of them. I am sure that many parents and carers will join the council in supporting this campaign.”
Wokingham Borough Council
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