Summer holidays are a time when many pupils and students are looking for temporary work to gain experience, earn money and spend their time productively. Summer jobs for minors are becoming increasingly popular. Laurynas Staniulis, partner at AVOCAD, reminds businesses and parents who employ minors about what they need to know.
According to the lawyer, Lithuanian legislation strictly defines the working conditions for minors and aims to ensure that their work environment is safe and that their working hours are reasonably limited. This is necessary to protect the health and development of young people. Employers offering temporary jobs to minors must adhere to strict rules and requirements to ensure that the work experience is not only beneficial but also harmless.
What must be included in the employment contract?
Fixed-term contracts are a popular way of employing minors during the summer. These contracts are usually for a limited period of time and stipulate specific working conditions and duration. Lithuanian law stipulates that minors can work from the age of 14, but the hours and nature of their work are strictly regulated. Outside the school year, minors under 16 can work up to 6 hours a day, 30 hours a week. During the school year, up to 12 hours per week. Meanwhile, adolescents aged 16 and over may work up to a maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. The nature of the work must be light and without risk to health.
The employment contract must clearly state the duration of the work, the pay, the duties and the conditions of work. It is also important that the employer provides a safe working environment and all the necessary information and training on workplace safety.
Incidentally, the lawyer points out that minors between the ages of 14 and 16 require the written consent of a parent or another legal representative of the child. The employer must be provided with a medical certificate issued by a healthcare institution stating that the child is fit to perform the specific job. During the school year, minors aged 14–16 require not only parental consent but also written consent from the school where the child is enrolled. From the age of 16, neither of these consents is required.
Regulation and protection
Minors' work is regulated by the Labour Code and other legislation, which details working conditions, working hours and ensuring that working conditions comply with safety and health requirements. Employers who fail to comply with these requirements can face serious consequences, including fines and other legal action. The State Labour Inspectorate carries out regular inspections to ensure that employers comply with all legal provisions and that minors work in appropriate conditions. In addition, minors and their parents have the right to contact the labour inspectorate or other responsible authorities if they consider that working conditions are inadequate or that their rights are being violated.
What minors cannot do?
Lawyer Laurynas Staniulis points out that the general rule is that children are not allowed to work, except in light work that is compatible with their physical abilities and that does not adversely affect the child's safety, health, physical, mental, moral or social development. For example, they are not allowed to work in jobs involving alcohol.
When employing minors and providing them with safe and healthy working conditions, the employer must be aware that minors are prohibited from working in work that is harmful to their health or dangerous.
It is also important to remember the working hours of children in light work. During the school year, minors under 16 can work up to 6 hours a day, 30 hours a week. During the school year, up to 12 hours per week. Meanwhile, adolescents aged 16 and over may work up to a maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Summer work for minors can be a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience, but it must be regulated and safe. This is the only way to ensure that young people can fulfil their potential and prepare for their future careers without harming their health or their education.