black decorative triangle

New student employment rules in 2026

New student employment rules in 2026
11 juni, 2026
Share via:

The rules governing student employment have recently been relaxed, effective since May 2026. Two Royal Decrees now make it possible to employ younger students, including in sectors where this was previously not allowed.

From age 15: light work permitted

Minors aged 15 who are still subject to full-time compulsory education may now perform “light work”. This includes tasks such as:

  • Reception and cloakroom duties
  • Shelf stocking
  • Sales assistant roles in retail
  • Logistics tasks: receiving goods, packing, labelling, and preparing orders
  • Light cleaning duties: dusting, vacuuming, and emptying bins
  • Serving and clearing meals in the healthcare sector

Key conditions to remember

  • Maximum 2 hours per school day and 12 hours per week during the school term
  • Maximum 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week outside the school term
  • No work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
  • No overtime and no work on Sundays or public holidays

From age 16: work on sundays and public holidays allowed

Young people aged 16 and over may now also work on Sundays and public holidays in:

  • Retail
  • Residential care centres
  • Lifeguard positions at the coast or in swimming pools

Looking for student workers for your business? Feel free to contact our HR experts.

TRIXXO News

Also view these articles