Sisters Britt (10) and Jill Selten (12) are still too young to start employment, but have had their own company since Saturday: ‘Troela’s ice cream’. That way they can earn their own money. Children under the age of thirteen are not allowed to be employed, but they are allowed to start their own business. How does that work?
If you are employed by a company as a child, that company must take into account a number of strict rules. For example, you are not allowed to lift more than 10 kilos, work no later than 19:00 and you must be at least 13 years old. Children are also allowed to work a maximum of 12 hours per school week. But these rules differ per age category.
The rules are laid down in child labor legislation. But it is different for children who want to start their own business. Children can simply register with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK). There is no minimum age limit, but the parents do have to give permission for many things within that company.
“We think that a 14-year-old boy who wants to start a taxi company is a bit crazy.”
For example, parents are responsible for the number of hours a child works. They then discuss this with the school their child attends. After all, children are still of compulsory education and must therefore continue to go to school in addition to running their business. How much and when they work is in the hands of the parents.
The Chamber of Commerce does look at how old a child is and what kind of business the child wants to start up. “We think a boy of fourteen who wants to start a taxi company is a bit crazy. We really look at whether something is feasible and whether it is age appropriate,” says van Wijngaarden. If the age and ambitions do not match, the Chamber of Commerce can disapprove of the company.
The Chamber of Commerce mainly plays an advisory role when starting up a child’s business. “We always inform parents that they really have to keep an eye on their child,” says Chamber of Commerce spokesman Debby van Wijngaarden. “But we do see that the parents and the children generally know what they are getting into.”
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