Small businesses face additional paperwork and council approval requirements before employing school-age teenagers under Government proposals that Conservatives warn could discourage employers from offering young people their first jobs.
LABOUR is facing criticism over plans to tighten the rules governing teenage employment, with warnings that additional bureaucracy could make it harder for young people to find Saturday jobs and earn their own money.
Under proposals published by the Department for Education earlier this month, employers in England would be required to obtain a child employment permit from their local council before a school-age teenager could begin work.
The changes form part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and are expected to take effect in early 2028, subject to parliamentary approval.
Although child employment permits already exist under many local authority rules, the Government wants to introduce a consistent national system requiring approval before employment begins.
The proposed requirements would apply to children who have not yet reached compulsory school-leaving age, including 16-year-olds who are still legally classed as schoolchildren.
In England, that age is reached on the last Friday in June of the school year in which a young person turns 16.
Employers would have to submit details of the proposed job, including the teenager’s working hours, duties and place of employment, together with confirmation that an appropriate risk assessment has been completed.
Applications would also require a statement from a parent or guardian confirming that the child is fit to work and has permission to take the job.
Local authorities would then need to be satisfied that the employment was suitable and would not adversely affect the child’s health, welfare or education before granting permission.
Councils could also require a medical examination, impose conditions on permits or refuse applications.
The proposals have raised concerns about the potential impact on smaller businesses, particularly independent shops, cafés, restaurants and other employers that traditionally offer young people their first experience of paid work.
Critics argue that requiring council approval before a teenager can start could create unnecessary delays and discourage businesses from offering casual or part-time opportunities.
The Government’s consultation does not specify a standard deadline by which councils would have to process applications.
Employers who take on children without the required permits could face prosecution once the new rules come into force. Existing child employment legislation provides for fines of up to £1,000 for certain offences.
Julia Lopez, the Conservative shadow business secretary, has criticised the proposals, arguing that Labour is making it more difficult for small businesses to employ the next generation of workers.
She highlighted the importance of first jobs in helping young people develop confidence, punctuality, resilience and practical workplace skills.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott has also criticised the additional requirements, pointing to the valuable lessons young people gain from earning their own money and taking responsibility in the workplace.
The controversy comes amid continuing concern about the number of young people outside employment, education or training.
Former Labour minister Alan Milburn is examining the wider problem of youth worklessness, including the support available to help young people enter employment.
Critics have questioned whether introducing additional administrative requirements for employers is consistent with efforts to encourage greater participation in the workforce.
However, the Department for Education maintains that the proposals are intended to strengthen safeguards for children and replace differing local council arrangements with clearer national rules.
The Government also plans to relax certain existing restrictions on teenage working hours, including allowing eligible children to work until 8pm rather than 7pm and removing the current two-hour Sunday limit, while retaining overall weekly restrictions.
The proposed regulations are currently subject to public consultation, which closes on December 13, 2026.
If implemented, the changes could mean that businesses wishing to offer schoolchildren a few hours of weekend work will first need formal approval from their local authority, introducing another administrative step before a young person can earn their first pay packet.
