The Government has come under fire for proposing that teenagers under school leaving age obtain council permission before taking Saturday jobs, with critics labelling the plans "bonkers".
Under the proposed changes to employment laws, businesses would be required to secure work permits for teenagers and complete a risk assessment before hiring anyone under school leaving age. The permit application would include paperwork detailing the proposed work schedule, evidence that an "appropriate" risk assessment had been carried out, and a statement from the teenager's parents confirming their "fitness to work".
Criticism from Shadow Ministers
Julia Lopez, shadow business secretary, accused Labour of "making it harder for small businesses to take on the next generation of workers" with the rules, which were first published in a consultation this month. Failing to secure a council permit before hiring young workers could see business owners prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, The Telegraph reports.
The new regulations could come into force in 2028. Ms Lopez said: "Teenagers looking for a Saturday job should not need to navigate a mountain of council paperwork before they can earn."
Laura Trott, shadow education secretary, added that Saturday jobs "teach young people the value of hard work, responsibility and earning their own money". "Labour risks putting those opportunities out of reach by making employers jump through hoops before they can give a teenager their first chance," she added.
Context of Youth Unemployment
The proposals come as Labour attempts to tackle the crisis of around a million Brits aged between 16 and 24 not being in education, employment or training (Neets). Former minister Alan Milburn's report on stemming the tide in youth unemployment is due to be published on Tuesday.
Mr Milburn's review will make a number of recommendations on how to curb the number of Neets, which exceeded a million for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year. Among its proposed measures is a ban on under-25s claiming the health element of Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payments (PIP), moving them instead to a "youth allowance", paid at the same level as the standard rate of Universal Credit.
Government Response
The Conservatives said the test of the review would be whether it paves the way for "real jobs", arguing that "shuffling more young people onto subsidised placements will not solve the underlying problem". Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "The Government is making it harder for businesses to take people on, then bringing in schemes to deal with the consequences."
"Our rescue mission for young people will create the jobs they need by halving the jobs tax, cutting business rates for 250,000 high street businesses and generating 100,000 apprenticeships a year."
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "This is a consultation and we are seeking views from everyone - but child employment permits are not new: our proposals simply require this to happen before employment begins to ensure children are safe and the work is suitable from day one.
"It should be without question that children's safety, ensuring they are not in danger, exploited or neglecting their education must come first. Teenagers should not need to navigate a mountain of paperwork before they can earn."
