Can my child work in summer (a holiday job) in Austria?
It depends on age and compulsory schooling. A real holiday job (employment) is allowed once the young person is 15 and has completed compulsory schooling (9 years). Under 15 or still in compulsory schooling counts as a "child," and employment is prohibited. Light work (e.g. limited help in a family business) is possible under the Child & Youth Employment Act from 13, with strict limits. For under-18s: at most 8 hours/day and 40/week, a night-work ban 8pm–6am, 12 hours rest after, and a weekly rest of 2 consecutive days incl. Sunday. In short: real holiday work from 15, light work from 13.
📋 The rules
- Real holiday work from 15 + schooling completed
- Light work from 13 (strict limits)
- Under 18: max 8h/day, 40h/week
- Night-work ban 8pm–6am
- Weekly rest: 2 days incl. Sunday
🔓 Exceptions
- A compulsory school placement is training, not employment
- Cultural/film work from 13 only with authority approval
- Hazardous/heavy tasks banned for under-18s
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Employers who breach the Child & Youth Employment Act (illegal hours, night work, hazardous tasks) face fines from the labour inspectorate. A paid holiday job is fully subject to social insurance and the applicable collective agreement. Beware a myth: "a 14-year-old can take a paid summer job" is generally false — paid employment requires completion of compulsory schooling, normally at age 15; only restricted light work applies earlier. Tip: distinguish a compulsory school placement (training) from a paid holiday job (a normal employment relationship).
📎 Official sources
- Labour Inspectorate · employing young people →
- WKO · employing young people →
- oesterreich.gv.at · youth rights at work →
❓ Frequently asked
What age can my child work?
A real holiday job, that is an employment relationship, is allowed once the young person is 15 and has completed the nine-year compulsory schooling. Anyone younger or still in compulsory schooling counts as a child, and employment is generally prohibited.
What is light work from 13?
Light work, such as limited help in a family business or agriculture, can be allowed from age 13 under the Child & Youth Employment Act. Strict limits apply on the duration, type and extent of the work, and it must not impair schooling.
What working times apply to under-18s?
For young people under 18, the maximum is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. There's a night-work ban from 8pm to 6am, a rest period of 12 hours after each working day, and a weekly rest of two consecutive days including Sunday.
What's the difference between a placement and a holiday job?
A holiday placement or compulsory placement required by a school or curriculum is training and may be unpaid or lower-paid. A paid holiday job, by contrast, is a normal employment relationship subject to social insurance and the applicable collective agreement.
What does the employer face for breaches?
Employers who breach the Child & Youth Employment Act, for example through unlawful working hours, night work or prohibited tasks, must expect fines from the labour inspectorate. The protective rules for young people are mandatory.
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