Legal issues

You can work up to:

• 5 hours a day on Saturdays and school holidays at age 13-14 (max 24 hours a week)
• 8 hours a day on Saturdays and school holidays at age 15 (max 35 hours a week)
• 8 hours a day 6 days a week at age 16-17

There are also limits to the sort of work you can do.

For more information, go to www.oxfordshire.gov.uk and search for child employment.

Wages

From October 2007 the minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds above compulsory school leaving age is £3.40 per hour. Apprentices who are 16 and 17 years old are exempt.

National insurance (NI)

Everyone is sent a plastic card with their National Insurance (NI) number at age 16. NI is deducted from your wages once you earn £100+ a week.

Tax

Tax is usually taken out of your wages automatically. If you earn below £5,225 a year you can claim the tax back at the end of the tax year. Save your PAYE slips! Contact your local tax office for a Repayment Claim form.