Fancy clothes, a better cell phone – many children and young people want to improve their pocket money so that they can afford it. That‘s why they look for a job. But there are clear rules for this. The German government passed the first Youth Employment Protection Act back in 1960. It is intended to ensure the health and safety of under-18s in the workplace. The law, which has been amended several times, regulates working conditions and aims to protect young people from exploitation.
When can you start working?
Children under the age of 15 are not allowed to work at all – with one exception. As soon as they are 13 years old, they can earn some money for up to two hours a day with their parents‘ consent – for example by delivering newspapers, looking after dogs or tutoring. They are also allowed to work in the cultural sector, in agriculture or at sporting events, but not on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays and not between 8pm and 8am. School hours are also taboo.
Young people between the ages of 15 and 18 are allowed to work; the Youth Employment Protection Act applies to them. There is one exception: young people who are still required to attend school full-time because they have not yet completed the ninth grade are considered children. Jobs are therefore limited to two hours per day. However, vacation jobs for up to four weeks a year are also permitted for school-age young people.
Working hours: Night work prohibited
Young people may not work more than eight hours a day and 40 hours a week, whereby a week is defined as the period from Monday to Friday. If public holidays fall on working days, working hours may be spread over five weeks as long as the average working week does not exceed 40 hours and the maximum daily working time is 8.5 hours. In agriculture, young people over the age of 16 may work up to 9 hours a day and 85 hours in a double week during the harvest period. The shift time (working hours plus breaks) may not exceed 10 hours, and up to 11 hours in certain sectors such as catering, agriculture or construction. Working hours are generally limited to the period from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with exceptions in sectors such as bakeries, agriculture and gastronomy. In the cultural and media sector, young people may work until 11 p.m., although a subsequent rest period of at least 14 hours must be guaranteed.
Rest breaks and vacation
If you work between 4.5 and 6 hours, you must take a break of at least 30 minutes. If you work for more than 6 hours, the break is 60 minutes. The law provides for different vacation entitlements depending on age: Young people under the age of 16 are entitled to 30 vacation days per year, 17-year-olds to 27 days and 18-year-olds to 25 days.
Occupational health and safety and health checks
Employers are obliged to ensure a safe working environment and to protect young people from health risks. Regular medical examinations should ensure that young people are able to cope with their work.
For more information:
Baden-Württemberg | Youth Employment Protection Act
Customs | Youth employment protection
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Außenbereich vom Bar & Grillrestaurant.Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian
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