The Children (Protection at Work) (Scotland) Regulations 2006

These regulations came into force on 18 April 2006 and they limit to 12 hours the number of hours per week that any child below the minimum school leaving age can work during term time.

Until 18 April 2006, the governing legislation in Scotland, the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, allowed a young person under the age of 15 to work a maximum of 17 hours a week in term time and for a young person aged at least 15 but below the minimum school leaving age to work 20 hours. Within the new 12 hour per week limit, the daily limits in respect of term-time - 2 hours per school day, 2 hours on a Sunday and 8 hours (over 15 years of age) or 5 hours (under 15) for any other day (i.e. Saturday) - will be retained. Current limits on children's working hours out of term time are not affected.

These regulations are meant to reinforce the Executive's policy intention to safeguard the educational opportunities and the health and physical wellbeing of children in employment by limiting the hours they work, while allowing them to continue to enjoy the rewards and experience of work. Retaining the daily limits should ensure flexibility for children in the work they choose to undertake.

The Executive has reported that there appears to be a relatively low level of knowledge and understanding about the protections that exist for children at work. They want to raise awareness of all those involved - employers, schools, parents and children. The Executive have produced a guide which will be sent to all secondary schools and will also be available on their website at: www.scotland.gov.uk