Minimum Age for Employment
In accordance with provisions of Children’s Act, a child under the age of 15 years cannot be employed. The minimum age for engagement of child in light work is thirteen years. Light work is the work which is not likely to be harmful to the health or development of the child and does not affect the child’s attendance at school or the capacity of the child to benefit from education.
The minimum age for apprenticeship is fifteen years or after completion of basic education. It is responsibility of the State to provide free education and ensure that it is equally accessible to all. The compulsory education age is 15 years.
Sources: § 89-91 & 98 of the Children's Act 1998, last amended by Act 937 2016, §25 of the Constitution of Ghana 1992, with Amendments through 1996; § 1 & 2 of the Education Act (778) 2008, last amended by Act 802 of 2010
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work
The minimum age for hazardous work is 18 years. No person may engage a child in exploitative labour, the labour which deprives a child of his health, education and development. A child may not be engaged for night work (between 08:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m.).
Hazardous work (which poses a danger to the health, safety and morals of a person) includes:
- going to sea; mining and quarrying;
- carrying and transporting heavy loads;
- manufacturing industries where chemicals are produced or used;
- working in places where machines are used; and
- work in places such as bars, hotels and places of entertainment where a person may be exposed to immoral behaviour.
According to the Labour Regulations, employment of young persons (a person between 18 and 21 years of age) in hazardous work is prohibited. Hazardous work includes manual lifting of loads over 25 Kgs, work on scaffolds over 2.5 meters high, use of dangerous chemicals, and places with excessive noise.
Sources: § 87-88 & 91 of the Children's Act 1998, last amended by Act 937 2016, Regulation 7 of the Labour Regulations, 2007 (LI 1833)
