15 and 16-year-olds
If a young person is 15 or 16 and still at school, the rights are almost identical to those of 14-year-olds. However, they may work for up to eight hours on Saturdays or during the school holidays.

16 and 17 year olds
If a young person has left school and is 16 or 17, the law refers to them as a young worker. There are still some restrictions at this age. A young worker may not work for more than eight hours every day, or a total of 40 hours over the course of a week. Except in exceptional circumstances, they may not work an overnight shift. They are no longer restricted to just 'light work', so can work in places like a busy shop, restaurant kitchen or as a waiter or waitress.

The employment contracts.
Both employers have contracts with Sara Jane and both have breached their contracts. Sara Jane was entitled within two months of starting employment to be given a written statement of terms and conditions in each job. www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/
EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10027905

National Minimum Wage.
Children who are still of school age (that is, up to the last day of the summer term in the year they are 16) have no protected wage rights or holiday pay. From 16 onwards, there are hourly rates below which pay must not be allowed to fall, based on the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission.

Notes for this activity continue on the next page.