Are young workers allowed to work the same hours as adult workers?

No. Young workers aged 16 and 17 may not ordinarily work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week under the Working Time Regulations, nor at night between 10pm-6am or 11pm-7am. Young workers cannot ‘opt-out’ of the 40 hour limit.

They may work longer hours where:

• this is necessary to maintain continuity of service or production, or to respond to a surge in demand for a service or product
• an adult is not available to perform the duties
• the training needs of the young worker concerned are not adversely affected
• they are adequately supervised during night work hours, where that is necessary for their protection
• they are allowed equivalent periods of compensatory rest.

Young workers who are seafarers, in sea fishing or part of the armed forces are covered by different regulations.