Private sector employers and employees
Contact Wageline
Within Western Australia: 1300 655 266
Outside Western Australia: 08 6251 2100
wageline@dmirs.wa.gov.au
Mailing address
Locked Bag 14
Cloisters Square WA 6850
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. This includes employers covered by the state industrial relations system and WA awards and agreements, and employers covered by national industrial relations system and national modern awards and agreements.
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.
No. WA’s child employment laws do not apply if a child is employed in a family business.
The minimum age is 13 years.
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.
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 Community Services 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.
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.
Yes. For the purpose of the child employment laws, the word ‘employ’ includes engaging a child as a contractor.
Yes. The penalties are:
You should keep:
The following Acts contain general employment record keeping requirements:
State system employers should visit the Record Keeping Requirements page on this website for information on record keeping requirements under the Industrial Relations Act and the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act for state system employers.
National system employers should visit www.fairwork.gov.au for information on record keeping obligations under the Fair Work Act.
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.
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.
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.
You can contact Wageline on 1300 655 266 with queries about Western Australia’s child employment laws.
Wageline has produced an Employer Information Pack for employers and store managers running a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business.
The Employer Information Pack contains:
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