17 Year Old Working Hours

[iloveglee]

Can anyone clarify for me the number of hours a 17 year old can work. The government website isn't absolutely clear.

This is about a 17 year old in an apprenticeship. She works 40 hours a week (this does not include her break which is on top of this), so she's actually in the work place 8.5 hours a day. I know that a 17 year old cannot work more than 40 hours a week, but am not sure if this applies to the daily hours as well, i.e. 8 per day. I am also not certain if these hours can be averaged out over 17 weeks as adult hours can. Again, I find the government/apprenticeship websites not fully clear.

In this apprenticeship, time off for assignments is supposed to be given, but is not. The college have said these have to be done in spare time, but again I was under the impression on an apprenticeship, this has to be included in the hours worked during the week. This particular apprenticeship does not allow for a college day, all the 'off the job' training takes place in the workplace, apart for the assignments which are done online.

It seems on the face of it that this place is not running the apprenticeship true to the spirit of how it should be done, and the Manager is less than approachable. I'd appreciate the insights of people on here, which are usually pretty reliable - for the most part anyway!!

[Buenchico]

The hours can't be averaged out.

Quote: "Your working hours can’t be averaged out if you’re under 18. You can’t work more than 40 hours in any one week".

Source:
https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours/calculating-your-working-hours

Apprentices must be paid for time spent training as part of their apprenticeship:
https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide/pay-and-conditions

The Acas helpline can provide further advice:
https://www.gov.uk/pay-and-work-rights

[iloveglee]

Thanks for the links. For some reason I never came across the bit that said hours can't be averaged out if you're under 18. Still not sure though about how that week can be worked out. This apprentice is being asked to work one hour over her 8 hours one day next week. They have not said anything about her working an hour less on any of her other days, so I am assuming from this they are contravening the law.

So far as the training goes, she does know she is entitled to time off for education, but as there is nothing in place, such as a regular day at college, whenever she broaches the subject of needing time for an assignment, they say that they can't spare her as they don't have enough staff!! The college mentor has been less than helpful.

It seems to me that this particular company are using apprentices as cheap labour, without fulfilling the other parts of it.