With the new school year well under way, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries has reminded parents and others of the laws about when children can work.
It emphasises that children of compulsory school age are not permitted to work during the hours when they are required to attend school.
It said outside school hours there were restrictions on the type of job and working hours for children under 15.
The Department said children aged 13 and 14 were allowed to deliver newspapers, pamphlets or advertising material; work in a shop, fast food outlet, cafe, restaurant or collect shopping trolleys from a retail outlet or adjacent area.
However, they needed the written permission of a parent and must not start work before 6am or finish after 10pm.
Children aged 10, 11 or 12 were allowed to deliver newspapers, pamphlets or advertising material, but could not start work before 6am or finish later than 7pm and must be accompanied at all times by a parent, or another adult who had written permission from a parent.
“As long as the work does not prevent school attendance, children of any age can work in a family business owned by a relative such as a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent,” the Department said.
“They can perform professionally as an actor, musician, entertainer or in an advertisement; work for charities and other not-for-profit organisations.”
The Department said penalties could be imposed on both the employer and parent if they allowed a child to breach these rules.
