Inspectorate checking child employment in hospitality

WORKFORCE Inspectorate Victoria (WIV) is running inspections at hospitality venues- including restaurants, cafés and fast-food outlets – across the state during the summer school holidays to ensure businesses are complying with Victoria’s child employment laws.

Employers who breach child employment laws risk penalties of more than $200,000.

Businesses hiring children under 15 must hold a child employment licence and follow strict conditions covering: 

The type of work children can perform

Supervision requirements

Maximum working hours, and Rest breaks.

The rules differ between school terms and school holidays. During school holidays, children can work up to six hours per day and 30 hours per week.

Hospitality work involves activities which may not be considered “light work” under the Child Employment Act 2003 (Vic).

The sector presents significant occupational health and safety risks for children, including:

Repetitive bending, twisting, or lifting

Manual handling of heavy items such as boxes, crates or garbage bins

Exposure to hot cooking surfaces, knives, and industrial equipment

Strenuous physical exertion

High customer volumes and rapid work pace, and

Psychosocial risks such as customer aggression or inappropriate behaviour, which can affect mental wellbeing when workplace practices are inadequate.

WIV presently has two active prosecutions relating to alleged breaches of child employment laws before the courts.

WIV ran a compliance campaign during the September school holidays, inspecting 82 business and uncovering alleged breaches of child employment laws. Two investigations remain active.

The inspectorate says its findings highlight the importance of ongoing inspections to protect children from unsafe or unlawful work practices.

“Summer holidays are a busy time for hospitality businesses, but that doesn’t mean the rules can be overlooked. Our inspectors will be out across Victoria to make sure children are working safely and legally,” WIV deputy commissioner, Lily Dekic, said.

“Our audits earlier this year showed that breaches do occur. That’s why we are stepping up inspections this summer, to make sure children are not put at risk and businesses are held accountable.”

“Parents, schools and communities expect that when children take on holiday jobs, they will be safe. Compliance with child employment laws is how businesses meet that expectation.”

For more information on Victoria’s child employment laws, head to wiv.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 287 287.