LRD guides and handbook August 2013

Health and safety law 2013

Chapter 9

Young workers

The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2002 ended the UK opt-out for young workers. Young workers are defined as having “attained the age of 15 but not the age of 18”. Under the WTR, the maximum working hours for young workers must not exceed eight hours a day or 40 hours a week. These hours cannot be averaged out over a longer period. Where a young person works for more than one employer, working hours are aggregated and must be within the overall maximum.