Recruiting a young person for a summer job

You may use summer jobs to cope with the influx of tourists or a temporary increase in your activity or simply to replace your employees who have gone on paid leave. In any case, it will be essential for you to master the rules that will apply to the young people you will welcome into your company.

A minimum age to be respected

In principle, you cannot recruit a young person under the age of 16. However, provided that you obtain the consent of their legal representative and the prior authorization of the labor inspectorate, you have the option of employing a young person over 14 and under 16 years of age to carry out light work appropriate to their age during part of their school holidays. But be careful, the minor must benefit from a continuous rest period at least equal to half of his summer holidays.

A contract in due form

Regardless of the length of their stay in your company, the young person recruited as part of a summer job must sign a fixed-term employment contract. The contract that must mainly specify the reason justifying the recourse to a fixed-term contract (temporary increase in activity, replacement of an absent employee, seasonal contract, etc.), its term or minimum duration as well as the position concerned.

Note: The employment contract with a minor requires the consent of his or her legal representative.

Remuneration based on the minimum wage

Your young recruit is normally entitled to the same remuneration that would be granted to an employee with equivalent qualifications (diploma, experience, etc.) hired on a permanent contract to perform the same function. This remuneration cannot be lower than the minimum wage or the minimum wage set by your collective agreement.

Unless your collective agreement provides for a more favorable provision, a reduction in the minimum wage is nevertheless provided for young people under 18 years of age: by 20% for young people under 17 years of age and 10% for those aged 17 to 18. This allowance does not apply to young people who have 6 months of experience in your sector of activity.

Note: The benefits granted to other employees of the company, such as meal vouchers or the coverage of transport costs, also benefit young people recruited for the summer.

Adapted working conditions

Young people under the age of 18 may not work more than 8 hours per day (7 hours for those under 16), nor more than 35 hours per week. And you must give them at least 30 consecutive minutes of break if their daily working time exceeds 4 hours and 30 minutes.

As for night work, i.e., work carried out between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for children under 16 years of age), it is, in principle, prohibited for minors.

Important: If you recruit a minor, you must have them undergo an information and prevention consultation carried out by a health professional from your prevention and occupational health department before taking up their position.