Holiday jobs 2025: Please note important rules for students in NRW!

Holiday jobs 2025: Please note important rules for students in NRW!

The summer holidays are just around the corner and many students in North Rhine-Westphalia are already looking for attractive holiday jobs. But before we get down to business, there are a few things the young workers should consider. A valid employment contract is the be-all and end-all. This should contain clear regulations on tasks, working hours and pay, because this is the only way to protect the rights of young people. As n-tv.de reports, the Youth Labor Protection Act regulates the conditions for holiday work in Germany.

What activities are young people actually entitled to do? Light work in particular is permitted, such as gardening, delivering newspapers or running errands. However, heavy physical and dangerous work is taboo. Working and break times are also set by law. Children aged 13 and 14 are only allowed to work for a maximum of two hours a day with parental consent, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. These young workers can work in agriculture for up to three hours a day.

Working hours for young people

What about older teenagers? For those between 15 and 17 years of age, you may work a maximum of eight hours a day and 40 hours a week, with working hours between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. But there are exceptions here: In restaurants and multi-shift operations, 16-year-olds are allowed to work until 10 p.m. and in certain cases until 11 p.m. The break regulations are also important. If they work 4.5 to 6 hours, young people are entitled to at least half an hour's break; if they work more than six hours, they are entitled to at least one hour. This is also covered in detailed form on verbandsbuero.de.

Another important aspect is the minimum wage. It is currently 12.82 euros per hour, but only applies to employees aged 18 and over. Minors are not entitled to the statutory minimum wage, even if they perform well. Nevertheless, collective agreements can also apply to people under 18, as the IHK emphasizes. If you find yourself in a situation as a holiday worker that does not comply with the regulations, experts recommend contacting a union for support.

Support and development

The opportunities offered by holiday jobs should not be underestimated. In addition to earning money, these jobs are a great opportunity to develop soft skills and gain social experience. Here you not only improve your pocket money, but also develop a good knack for responsibility and teamwork. However, there are also challenges: a lack of knowledge about their own rights can lead to young people having to work in poor conditions.

In the current debate about holiday jobs, the balance between work experience and the protection of young employees is repeatedly discussed. There are voices calling for the abolition of the minimum wage exception for minors in order to improve pay and strengthen working conditions for this vulnerable group. Future trends point to an increase in awareness of the rights of young people and an expansion of digital information offerings. But until then, all young employees should be well informed and pay attention to their rights in order to have a relaxed and successful summer job!