Employment of children laws in WA - shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business

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The Children and Community Services Act 2004 regulates the employment of children under the age of 15 years in Western Australia.

These child employment laws apply to all Western Australian employers in both the state and national industrial relations systems.

A proactive compliance campaign was undertaken by Private Sector Labour Relations in 2019 to promote compliance by takeaway and fast food businesses with child employment laws.

As part of the education stage of this campaign, Wageline provided takeaway food businesses across Western Australia with information about their obligations for employing children. This included the information brochure titled Laws restrict when children under 15 can work in takeaway food businesses.

Following the education component of the campaign, the campaign involved selected businesses being audited by industrial inspectors from Private Sector Labour Relations to ensure that children are not being employed or otherwise engaged in breach of the Children and Community Services Act. 

Frequently asked questions 

This page answers frequently asked questions about the employment of children specifically in a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business. There are different child employment laws which apply to other types of businesses. This information is available on the When children can work page.

Do the child employment laws apply if I employ my own child or a relative’s child in my business?

No. WA’s child employment laws do not apply if a child is employed in a family business.

  • A family business means a business, trade or occupation carried on by a parent or other relative of the child.
  • A parent is a person who has responsibility for the long-term or the day-to-day care, welfare and development of the child.
  • A relative of a child is the child’s grandparent, step parent, sibling, uncle or aunt, or cousin.

What is the minimum age of employment for a child to work in a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business?

The minimum age is 13 years.

Do I need a parent’s permission before I can employ their child?

Yes. You may only employ a child aged 13 or 14 in your business once you have a parent’s written permission. A parent is a person who has responsibility for the long-term or the day-to-day care, welfare and development of the child.

A template parental permission form is available. 

What work can a child do in a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business?

The Children and Community Services Act does not specify the type of work a child may do in a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business.

However, the Department of Communities can issue a notice to an employer placing limits on what work a child is allowed to do, if it is considered that the work or the nature of the work carried out is harmful to the child’s wellbeing, including their health and safety. Such a notice can be issued in relation to the employment of any child under the age of 18 years.

Do the child employment laws apply if I do not pay a child for the work they perform?

Yes. For the purpose of the child employment laws, the word ‘employ’ includes engaging a child to carry out work for which they do not receive any payment or other reward.

There are also laws regarding the requirement to pay any employee, including children, for work performed.  

Do the child employment laws apply if I engage a child as a contractor rather than an employee?

Yes. For the purpose of the child employment laws, the word ‘employ’ includes engaging a child as a contractor.

Are there penalties for not complying with WA’s child employment laws?

Yes. The penalties are:

  • employing a child without the permission of a parent – a fine of up to $24,000 or $120,000 for a corporation
  • employing a child before 6am or after 10pm – a fine of up to $24,000 or $120,000 for a corporation
  • continuing to employ a child in contravention of a notice from the Department of communities which has placed limits on what work a child is allowed to do in your business – a fine of up to $36,000 or $180,000 for a corporation, and 3 years’ imprisonment.

What are the employment record keeping requirements?

You should keep:

  • a record of the time a child aged under 15 years started and finished work each day so you can demonstrate that they have not been employed before 6am or after 10pm
  • a copy of a parent’s written permission for their child aged under 15 years to work for your business so you can demonstrate that they have been employed with a parent’s permission.

The following Acts contain employment record keeping requirements:

  • Industrial Relations Act 1979 – these requirements apply to employers in the state industrial relations system covered by WA awards and agreements.
  • Fair Work Act 2009 – these requirements apply to employers covered in the national industrial relations system.

State system employers should visit the Employment records - Employer obligations page on this website for information on record keeping requirements. 

National system employers should visit www.fairwork.gov.au for information on record keeping obligations

Are there laws regulating the employment of children during school hours?

Yes. Under the School Education Act 1999 a person must not employ a child of compulsory school age during the hours when the child is required to attend school or otherwise participate in an educational programme of a school.

There are certain exceptions where a child can be working, or working and studying, if the child has been exempted from attending school. The school the child attends or the relevant regional education office can be contacted for more information. 

Are there laws regulating the employment of children on licensed premises?

Yes. Please visit the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au for information on employing children on licenced premises.

How do I ensure my business complies with children in employment laws?

Conducting a self-audit will assist retail and food industry employers to ensure all employment arrangements comply with the child employment laws and may avoid significant penalties for breaching the Children and Community Services Act.

Wageline’s Self-Audit Checklist is a tool to help employers operating a shop or restaurant, (including a fast food or a takeaway food business) to conduct a self-audit of compliance with the child employment laws.  

Where do I get more information?

You can contact Wageline on 1300 655 266 with queries about Western Australia’s child employment laws. 

Employer resources 

Wageline has produced a self audit checklist and a template form for gaining permission for employing children for employers and store managers running a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business.

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