My teenage wants to work during this holiday

[bb_ mom]

My 2 cents worth - this would be a good opportunity for him to learn how difficult it is to just earn $200 after clocking in 20 hours. And since it’s during school hols, I think it’s ok. I’m assuming you know who he’s going to work with?


DH and I already told DD to look for job next November/December too. So every time I’m at some fast food joint or F&B outlet, I’ll ask DD if she would consider working there.

[Pen88n]

There is a minimum age for teen working, I think. If I am not wrong, the fast food restaurants only accept age 15 onwards (as it is indicated in employment act, I think).

[hexagon]

I am all for letting my teenager work during the long school holidays. Their school holidays starts 24 Oct and I can’t imagine him living like a sloth or a computer addict for more than 2 months. He is 15 this year and I think he has more options this year. He started looking for holiday jobs last year but the only place that takes in 14 yr olds are some fast food restaurants like Macdonalds. They take in 14 yr olds but they require the kids to continue to work part time on weekends after school starts.

[hexagon]

I am all for letting my teenager work during the long school holidays. Their school holidays starts 24 Oct and I can’t imagine him living like a sloth or a computer addict for more than 2 months. He is 15 this year and I think he has more options this year. He started looking for holiday jobs last year but the only place that takes in 14 yr olds are some fast food restaurants like Macdonalds. They take in 14 yr olds but they require the kids to continue to work part time on weekends after school starts.

[abc8xyz]

Thanks all mummies!


My son who is turning 14yo can work part-time. I only know that his friend is from CCA. My son is playful and I hope the environment would not be too complicated and he could learn some lifeskills from the work, if he really decided to do so. Now he told me he is informing me he is going to work, not asking for permission.

Anyway, following is from MOM last year when I enquired. I would assume it’s still valid.

"
A child must be at least 13 years of age before
he/she can be employed.

A child who is 13 years old and above but has
not completed his 15th year of age can engage only in
light work suited to his/her capacity. He/she cannot work in
any industrial undertaking or vessel unless such undertaking
or vessel is under the personal charge of his/her
parent.

A young person, who has completed his 15th year
of age but has not completed his 16th year of age may be
employed in an industrial undertaking. However, the employer
must:

Notify the Commissioner for Labour via ESOL within
30 days of the young person’s employment; and
Before employment, submit a medical certificate
certifying the young person’s fitness for
employment.
"

Also,

"
Under Regulation 8 of the Employment (Children and Young Persons) Regulations, "Where a child or young person is attending school, the period of work put in by the child or young person and the period of school attendance shall not in the aggregate exceed 6 hours or 7 hours, respectively, in any one day except where the child or young person is employed upon work carried on in any Government or other technical school, or under any approved apprenticeship scheme."
"

[sharonkhoo]

I think it may not be a bad thing to let him work, but you should set some limits according to your comfort level. However, you say that your son is not asking your permission, just telling you, and that I think is not a good sign. I don’t know what your relationship with him is normally, but even my older teens would not try this on me! They understand that bigger decisions, especially ‘first time’ things, need to be discussed with us parents, and although we have always tried to take their feelings and opinions into account, they accept that we have the final say. They realise that they are younger and less experienced, and so far have always consulted us and mostly follow our guidance. We also try to be flexible and reasonable! You may want to sit your son down and talk to him about the pros and cons that you see, hear him out, and come to some understanding before you give permission.


About the money - at this age, I would also make clear to him that it doesn’t mean that everything he earns is his to spend. You may want to discuss this up front too, and get some agreement about what portion he should save, maybe donate some to a good cause, and maybe a portion should be spent on some family item or event? And tell him that just because he has his own spending money doesn’t mean he has the freedom to buy anything, go anywhere, do anything and come home anytime he pleases just because he doesn’t need to ask you for money. He should understand that your authority over him and responsibility for him is not based on whether he needs you to fund him on not.

The main thing is whether you can convince him that you set such limits for his safety, not because you are trying to be dictatorial or unreasonable. Hope this helps.

[abc8xyz]

Yup. Sad to say that my teenage is not the guai guai type. Many times he would go on his own way and I make sure that he understood that he is responsible for his own decision. Soft method seems to work better with reasoning. However, I’m surprised that a lot of time he seems to have his own reasons. Time has changed… Like what’s said, must set some conditions before he starts Thanks for the advice.

[sharonkhoo]

abc8xyz:

Yup. Sad to say that my teenage is not the guai guai type. Many times he would go on his own way and I make sure that he understood that he is responsible for his own decision. Soft method seems to work better with reasoning. However, I'm surprised that a lot of time he seems to have his own reasons. Time has changed.... Like what's said, must set some conditions before he starts Thanks for the advice.

With teens, reasoning always works best, I find. Even when I was young, we may not have outwardly rebelled, but we preferred to be given reasons, not just commands. Today, teens are even more outspoken and exposed to other ideas. I see my role as parent to give them all the pros and cons (since I have more experience) and make recommendations. If they choose not to follow, I let them do it their way as long as there is no moral or safety issue. They are usually wise enough not to put themselves in moral or physical danger, so I rarely have to be very firm. It's a challenge deciding to what extent to gradually relax control as they grow up.

[BlueBells]

As long as the child has passed his 14th birthday, they can work a maximum of 5 hours a day with a break in between.


I would certainly support it if my child wants to work during the school holiday at 14 YO.