Requesting the participation of children at events

Children are subject to special protection. This also applies to cases in which children are to be employed in return for payment.
You can only employ children and young people of full-time school age if you have been granted an exemption from the ban on child labor. A permit is required for the employment of:

• Children aged 3 to 14 inclusive
• young people aged 15 to 17 inclusive who are still required to attend school

An exemption from employment cannot be granted for children under the age of 3. For young people who are still subject to full-time compulsory schooling, the regulations for children apply. You may only employ children for creative activities. This includes participation in

• theater performances
• musical performances
• advertising events
• Radio and television recordings
• Film and photo shoots

For the different types of events, you must observe different employment rules depending on the age of the children. The maximum possible working hours are

• for theater performances for children over 6 years of age:
  
  • in the period from 10:00 to 23:00
  • up to 4 hours a day
• for music performances and other performances, advertising events and recordings on radio and television, on audio and video media and for filming and photography:
  
  • for children over 3 years of age
    
    • up to 2 hours a day
    • in the period from 8:00 to 17:00
  • for children over 6 years
    
    • up to 3 hours a day
    • in the time from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Rehearsals count as working hours and are included in the period of employment. As a rule, you will receive the permit for a maximum of 30 days per calendar year and child. If the child is also employed at other locations, all working days are added together.
After employment, you must grant the child a period of 14 hours off until the next employment. Attendance at school before the end of this period is not affected by this restriction.
You are responsible for ensuring that the necessary measures are taken to protect the child against risks to life and health and to prevent detrimental physical and mental development before the start of employment. You are also responsible for the care and supervision of the child, even if you assign this task to a supervisor who must be carefully selected, appointed, instructed and monitored by you.

You will not receive a permit for shows and performances by children:

• in cabarets
• in dance halls and similar establishments
• in amusement parks
• at funfairs
• at funfairs and similar events

The application must be submitted to the trade supervisory authority responsible for you or to the Office for Occupational Health and Safety. The permit is limited in time and can be revoked at any time. The supervisory authority determines how long, at what time and on what day the child may be employed. The duration and location of rest breaks and the maximum duration of daily employment are also determined.
If you employ children without an official permit, you are liable to prosecution.

Requirements

• You have taken all necessary precautions to protect and supervise the children.
• You submit the application in good time before taking up employment. Retroactive approval is not possible.
• You comply with the statutory provisions on employment.
• You have the written consent of the legal guardians and a medical certificate that is not older than 3 months.
• You have a certificate from the school stating that your school performance is not at risk.

What documents do I need?

• Application for employment of a child/young person
• Declaration of consent, i.e. the written consent of the person with parental authority
• Medical certificate not older than 3 months
• Certificate from the school confirming that progress at school is not at risk
  
  • this must not be older than 6 months