No. Child labor under 14 is illegal in Germany under the Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (JArbSchG), with exceptions permitted only in limited, supervised contexts. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit enforces strict age thresholds, and violations trigger penalties under §58 JArbSchG, including fines up to €15,000 for employers.
Key Regulations for Child Labor Under 14 in Germany
- Age Restriction: Employment is prohibited for children under 14, except for light work (e.g., delivering newspapers) with parental consent and local labor office approval (§5 JArbSchG).
- Supervision & Duration: Work must occur outside school hours, with daily limits of 2 hours on school days and 3 hours on weekends (§7 JArbSchG). The Gewerbeaufsichtsämter (local trade supervisory offices) monitor compliance.
- 2026 Compliance Shift: Amendments to the JArbSchG, effective January 2026, expand digital logging requirements for employers, mandating real-time tracking of hours worked by minors via the Bundesagentur für Arbeit’s Arbeitsschutzportal.
Additional restrictions apply to hazardous occupations (e.g., construction, night shifts) under §22 JArbSchG, with the Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS) publishing annual guidance. Employers must also adhere to EU Directive 94/33/EC, which Germany has transposed into national law.