Employment of children in the fast food industry

Wageline newsletter March 2017

The fast food industry is a major employer of young workers. The Department of Commerce is currently undertaking a proactive compliance campaign in the fast food industry across the Perth metropolitan area to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 which regulates the employment of children under the age of 15 years. All employers in Western Australia must comply with the provisions of the Children and Community Services Act.

The minimum age for employment in a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business is 13 years. Children aged 13 and 14 must have written permission from a parent and must not work during school hours, start work before 6.00am or finish after 10.00pm.

 

As part of the current campaign, Commerce will be contacting over 500 fast food employers and providing information to the head offices of franchise groups. Employers are being provided with an Employer Information Pack on employing children in the fast food industry to assist store owners and managers ensure all employment arrangements comply with the child employment laws.

The Employer Information Pack Employment of children laws in WA – shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business is available on the Wageline website and contains:

•        A fact sheet for employers on employment of children laws.

•        A self-audit checklist 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.

•        A template form for gaining written parental permission for employing children who are 13 or 14 years of age. The template form is provided in both Word and editable PDF format.