New rules for child employment

What has changed?

Do you employ staff aged 13 to 15 years old? The rules on child employment have changed. The following rules now apply to side jobs and holiday work for children between 13 and 15 years old:

• 13- and 14-year-olds will be allowed to work on Sundays, under strict conditions
• 13- and 14-year-olds will be allowed to work until 20:00 hours on non-school days, such as weekends, and during the school holidays. Currently this is 19:00 hours.
• 15-year-olds will be allowed to work until 20:00 hours on non-schooldays. During school holidays they can work until 21:00 hours.
• children under 16 are not allowed to work in areas where alcoholic drinks are served, or can be served. They can work in other areas, such as kitchens and other areas where there is no customer contact.

Exception for internships

14- and 15-year-olds doing an official VMBO traineeship are subject to different rules than when they do real work (in Dutch).

For whom?

• entrepreneurs who employ 13-, 14-, or 15-year-olds

When?

This change in the Further regulations on child employment has taken effect on 18 November 2024.