Amend UK child employment laws to allow more part time work for under 16

Open for signatures 27 signatures

What the petition asks

Give more options for under-16s to make money through safe, legal part-time work. Specifically, increase the maximum legal working hours and provide more flexibility in scheduling, especially for homeschooled children who do not have fixed school hours.

This issue is particularly acute for homeschooled families. Homeschooling is legal and growing in the UK, with parents/guardians responsible for suitable full-time education. Homeschooled children don’t attend fixed school timetables, so the “no work during school hours” rule and term-time limits don’t align well with their reality. They could safely take on more daytime or flexible hours without clashing with learning, yet the law treats them the same as school-attending peers.

Timeline

7 Apr 2026

Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 27

Status Open for signatures

Department Department for Work and Pensions

Opened 7 Apr 2026

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