Apply for a child work permit

If you want to employ a child under school leaving age, you’ll need to apply for a work permit before they start to work for you. The same rules apply if you’re planning to employ your own children.

The 1933 Children & Young Person Act and Local Authority Byelaws help to keep children safe and protect their rights. They include:

• what kinds of work they can do
• how they are paid
• when they can work

If you break these laws, you could be prosecuted. The penalty for an offence is £1,000 fine or 6 months in prison.

Children do not need a work permit for work experience arranged by their school.

How to apply

Download the child employment application form below.

Complete your form, save it, and send it by email to ChildEmployment@walsall.gov.uk

Local rules on the types of work children cannot do

Children cannot work in:

• factories and other industrial undertakings
• the sale or delivery of alcohol
• betting and gaming
• the preparation of food in any commercial kitchen (chip shop, café etc.)
• collecting money or canvassing door to door
• work involving exposure to adult material
• telephone sales
• fairgrounds and amusement arcades
• personal care of residents in nursing homes etc.
• street trading

This is not the full list. If we’re concerned that the work could be illegal, dangerous, or otherwise prohibited, we’ll ask for further information.

All work must be light duties only and not interfere with their education.