Regels rondom werktijden en stage.

If your child goes on an internship, there are some rules about working hours that all parties must follow. These are included in the working hours law. We show you which rules they are.

Internship hours for children 16 or 17 years old

Is your child 16 or 17 years old? Then the following rules apply:

• Your child may not work between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Your child must have one break of 30 minutes or two breaks of 15 minutes if the shift is longer than four and a half hours.
• Your child must have at least 12 hours of rest per day.
• Your child must have at least 36 hours of rest per week (7 x 24 hours).
• Your child must have at least 13 free Sundays per 52 weeks.
• Night shifts are forbidden.
• Your child works a maximum of nine hours per shift.
• Your child works a maximum of 45 hours per week.
• Every four weeks, your child has an average working time of 40 hours per week.

Also, school time counts as working time. So if your child has six hours of school in one day, they can only work three hours that day.

Internship hours for children 18 years or older

Is your child 18 years or older? Then the following rules apply:

• Your child works a maximum of 12 hours per shift
• Your child works a maximum of 60 hours per week. They cannot work 60 hours every week. Over 4 weeks, they can work an average of 55 hours per week. Collective agreements or company rules can allow deviation, but working more than 60 hours per week is not allowed. Over a period of 16 weeks, the average maximum is 48 hours per week.

Vacation days

During the internship, your child has fewer holiday days than at school. It can happen that your child is expected to work during school holidays. Which days off your child may take is decided together with the internship company and the school. Your practical agreement states how many hours of internship are mandatory and how many days off there are.

Forbidden work for young people under 18 years

Young people under 18 have restrictions on certain work. They may not work with some dangerous substances or in very noisy places. The government has made a list of this. Here you can read what your child must watch for when choosing an internship.

The employer and parents are both responsible for following these rules. The Dutch labour inspection can give a fine to the employer or the parents if they do not follow these rules.