Young employees

Minors are persons under the age of 18. A minor who has reached the age of 15 and completed compulsory schooling can perform dependent work. Dependent work of minors younger than 15 or those who have not completed compulsory schooling is prohibited. It is permitted only in cases involving artistic, cultural, advertising, or sports activities under conditions stipulated by other legal regulations.

Section 350 (2) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 35 (1) of Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code

Section 121 et seq. of Act No. 435/2004 Coll., on employment

The employer is obliged to:

• assign tasks appropriate to the physical and intellectual development of young employees;
• provide them with extra care and ensure appropriate supervision;
• create favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of young employees' physical and mental abilities, including special adjustments to their working conditions;
• provide young workers with sufficient and adequate information and guidance on occupational safety and health, as required by the work being carried out.

The employer’s obligations also include restrictions on working hours, prohibitions on certain types of work, medical examinations for young employees, and limits on lifting loads (see following FAQs). The employer is obliged to maintain a list of all young employees.

Section 243 (1) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 103 (1) (f) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 246 (5) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Yes.

Young employees must be examined by an occupational health service provider:

• before commencing employment and before being reassigned to another job,
• regularly, as necessary, but at least once a year.

Workers under agreements for work performed outside the employment relationship, including young employees, must undergo an initial medical examination only in cases stipulated by special legal regulations – e.g., if the work is hazardous (work of category 2 hazard. and above) or involves activities with specific medical fitness requirements as determined by implementing legal regulations. An employer may also require an initial medical examination if there are doubts about the applicant's medical fitness, even if the work is not hazardous.

Section 247 of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 59 (1) (b) (2) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

For an employee under the age of 18:

• the length of the shift on each day must not exceed 8 hours;
• the total weekly working hours across multiple basic employment relationships must not exceed 40 hours;
• rest between shifts must be at least 12 hours in a 24-hour consecutive period;
• weekly uninterrupted rest must be at least 48 hours for young employees.

Section 79a of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 88 (1) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 90 (1) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 92 (2) of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Some types of work is completely prohibited for young employees:

• work underground in the extraction of minerals or in tunneling;
• overtime and night work (young employees over 16 years of age may exceptionally perform night work not exceeding 1 hour if necessary for their vocational training under the conditions specified in the Labor Code);
• work which is unsuitable, dangerous or harmful to the health of young people having regard to anatomical, physiological and psychological particularities at that age;
• work in which they are at an increased risk of injury or in the course of which they could seriously endanger the safety and health of other workers or other natural persons;
• work in controlled areas designated for handling hazardous substances and biological agents;
• operation of specified technical equipment.

Work and workplaces prohibited to young employees and the conditions under which young employees may exceptionally perform such work in order to prepare for an occupation are laid down in a Decree issued by the Ministry of Health. These include, for example, hazardous work, work performed at an imposed pace, work with sources of ionizing radiation, in the manufacture and processing of explosives, work associated with exposure to certain chemical substances, at heights above 1.5 m and above a free depth exceeding 1.5 m, etc.

Section 246 of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labor Code

Section 11 (2) (b) of Act No. 309/2006 Coll., on ensuring further conditions of occupational safety and health

Yes.

Hygiene limits when handling loads apply for young employees. The weight of the load must not exceed:

• boys: occasional handling up to 20 kg; frequent handling up to 15 kg (4.5 kg in seated position during frequent lifting);
• girls: occasional handling up to 15 kg; frequent handling up to 10 kg (2.5 kg in seated position during frequent lifting).
• the shift cumulative weight of the manually handled load must not exceed 5,500 kg for boys and 4,000 kg for girls per average shift.

Section 5 (1) (c) of Decree No. 180/2015 Coll., on prohibited work and workplaces