Young people under 18 at the workplace
Supervision, machines, working hours and rest under the 2026 rules
Introduction
If you are under 18, special rules apply to your work. They are set out in executive order (bekendtgørelse) no. 1713 of 18 December 2025 on young people's work. It applies from 1 January 2026.
Always an adult nearby
- 01You must get thorough training and instruction in the work.
- 02The work must take place under effective supervision by a person over 18.
- 03You must be able to get help quickly from a person over 18 who knows the work.
- 04If there is a risk of violence, or if you work in an isolated area without normal traffic, you must not work alone. An adult must be physically present.
Machines: a specific assessment
There is no fixed list of machines young people may not use. Instead, the employer must assess seven things (§ 14):
- 01The machine's dangerous properties
- 02The surroundings
- 03The risk of accidents
- 04Your experience and training
- 05Your ability to spot risks
- 06Your physical and mental capacity
- 07What has been done to make the work safe
The employer must be able to substantiate the assessment and must involve the employees.
As a vocational education (EUD) student
If you are 15 or older and in vocational education (EUD), you are exempt from §§ 13-15 when it is necessary for your training (§ 33). But never for work with a risk of explosion, equipment with compressed, liquefied or dissolved gases, high air pressure or a risk of suffocation in oxygen-deficient air (§ 33, stk. 3).
Working time
| Rule | Of compulsory school age or 13-14 years old | Aged 15 or over and no longer of compulsory school age |
|---|---|---|
| Per day | 2 hours on school days, 7 hours on other days (§ 18) | 8 hours (§ 16) |
| Per week | 12 hours in school weeks, 35 hours in other weeks (§ 18) | 40 hours (§ 16) |
| Not work | Between 20 and 6 o'clock (§ 22) | Between 22 and 6 o'clock or between 23 and 7 o'clock (§ 21) |
| Rest | 14 consecutive hours (§ 27) | 12 consecutive hours (§ 26) |
During a vocational education (EUD) you may work from 4 a.m. until 24 h (midnight) (§ 21, stk. 7). Time at school counts towards working time (§ 23). If you work more than 4½ hours, you must have a break of at least 30 minutes (§ 25). You must have 2 consecutive days off in every 7-day period (§ 28).
Under Safety you will find the calculator «Young people under 18», which checks the working hours for you.