Truants 'working illegally'

Many children working longer hours than they are allowed to

Almost half a million schoolchildren are working illegally, often playing truant to do paid work, a new report reveals.

A third of those working unlawfully were aged 13, with most having a paper round or paid to baby-sit.

Research among 2,500 schoolchildren in England and Wales showed that illegal working has not fallen since the last TUC study four years ago - despite the introduction of a European directive aimed at making sure that work did not affect academic studies.

It becomes a real problem if they are missing school and finding they cannot keep up with school or homework

TUC General Secretary John Monks

Many of the children questioned were working longer hours than they were legally allowed to, with almost half employed after 2000BST and one in four working before 0600BST.

No-one under the age of 16 is supposed to work before 0700BST or after 1900BST.

One in 10 children admitted they played truant to do paid work, with boys more likely to skip lessons.

Almost half of 15 and 16-year-olds said they had a job, mainly baby-sitting, delivering newspapers or working in a shop.

One in 10 earned more than £5 an hour but one in five were only paid £2 an hour or less.

Employers ignorant

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "It's fine for kids to earn a bit of extra pocket money with a paper round or a Saturday job, but it becomes a real problem if they are missing school and finding they cannot keep up with school or homework."

Other jobs done by schoolchildren included gardening, cleaning and working on a market stall.

The research showed that many employers did not know how many hours schoolchildren were allowed to work and the TUC attacked local councils for not enforcing sufficient spot checks on unscrupulous employers.

"The law exists to make sure children aren't exploited," said Mr Monks.

"In many cases, neither children nor their parents know what they are allowed to do - and it seems that many employers don't know the law either."