If the job is simple, does not require much physical or mental effort, and does not impede the attainment of education, then young people under the age of 15 or a minor subject to the obligation to attend school, may be employed.
Young people under the age of 18 must have the consent of their parent(s) to enter into an employment contract. Ten working days before a 7–12-year-old starts work, the employer must make an entry in the employment register and provide information on the consent of the legal representative of the minor, the working conditions of the minor, including the place of work and work duties, and the minor’s obligation to attend school in the Labour Inspectorate’s self-service portal TEIS.
More information about hiring a minor can be found on the web site of Labour Inspectorate.
Work permitted for young people
People under the age of 18 are given permission to work depending on their age and whether they are subject to compulsory school attendance. Young people are subject to compulsory school attendance until they acquire basic education or reach the age of 17.
Work that is permitted for young people must:
- be safe for health;
- not interfere with the acquisition of education;
- be in accordance with their abilities;
- legally allowed;
- easy.
7–12 year olds can do light work only in the cultural, artistic, sporting or advertising fields.
13–14 year-olds and 15–16-year-olds who are subject to compulsory school attendance can do jobs where the tasks they perform are simple in nature and do not require much physical or mental effort.
Young people aged 15–17 who not are subject to compulsory school attendance may carry out any work which does not endanger the health of the young person and does not contravene the restrictions set out in § 7 (2) of the Employment Contracts Act.
Minors may not perform work related to the handling of alcohol and tobacco, including retail or customer service.
What kind of contract should be entered into
Work is usually performed on the basis of an employment contract, but arrangements can be made to perform work on the basis of authorisation agreements, contracts for services, or other similar contracts. Working without a written contract is the most unreliable way of doing things.
Employment contracts are concluded to perform work that has been agreed upon; employment contracts govern the work process, not the objective to be reached.
Contracts for services are concluded to achieve a particular objective that is agreed upon. Suitable for cleaning, one-time/short-term construction and repair works, etc.
Authorisation agreements are concluded for performances, representation, etc.
Terms and conditions that have been agreed upon and stipulated in an employment contract may only be amended by the agreement of the parties.
Working and rest time
Minors work a reduced number of hours:
- in the case of an employee who is 7–12 years of age – 2 hours a day and 12 hours over a period of seven days during a quarter of an academic year outside of school hours and 3 hours a day and 15 hours over a period of seven days during school holidays;
- in the case of an employee who is 13–14 years of age or an older employee who is subject to the obligation to attend school – 2 hours a day and 12 hours over a period of seven days during a quarter of an academic year outside of school hours and 7 hours a day and 35 hours over a period of seven days during school holidays.
- young people aged 15–17 who not are subject to compulsory school attendance can work 8 hours a day and 40 hours over a seven-day period.
If a minor who is 14 years of age and studying in a vocational educational institution is completing work practice for the purposes of the Vocational Educational Institutions Act, his or her working time may be 7 hours a day and 35 hours over a period of seven days. Under the same conditions, the working time of a minor who is at least 15 years of age may be 8 hours a day and 40 hours over a period of seven days.
If a minor who is subject to the obligation to attend school performs light work in the field of culture, art, sports or advertising, his or her working time during a quarter of an academic year outside of school hours may be 3 hours a day and 12 hours over a period of seven days.
Minors who are subject to compulsory school attendance age shall not:
- work beyond his/her working hours;
- work overtime;
- work immediately before the start of the school day;
- work more than half the time each school holiday;
- work between 8pm and 6am.
Minors who not are subject to compulsory school attendance shall not:
- work beyond his/her working hours;
- work overtime;
- work between 22.00 and 06.00.
Minors may undertake creative work in the cultural, sporting or advertising sphere under the supervision of an adult between 20.00 and 24.00. For example, an 8-year-old can take part in an advertising campaign, play a role in theater, or take part in various cultural projects.
A minor's annual leave shall be 35 calendar days.
Read more about the working life of young people on the Tööelu (Working Life) portal.
Related articles
References
- Recruiting a minor
- Portal Tööelu
- Work suitable and unsuitable for minors
- Working and rest time of a minor