From what age can a teenager independently manage money, when is it officially allowed to work, and how many hours per week can a student work? Advocate Victoria Romanchikova spoke about the main legal rights and guarantees for minors.

Finances and deals: what can be done before and after 14 years old

The scope of a child's rights directly depends on their age:

• Under 14 years old. Children are only entitled to make minor household transactions – for example, buying groceries or paying for transportation. Their legal guardians fully bear the property liability for any damage they cause to someone else's property.
• From 14 years old. The teenager is granted the right to independently manage their own earnings, scholarship, and other income, as well as open a bank account. To execute most other transactions, they still require written consent from one of their legal guardians.

First job: main conditions for employment

An adolescent can officially be employed from age 14, but to conclude an employment contract, written consent from one of the parents, adoptive parents, or guardian is mandatory.

The law imposes strict requirements on the work itself. It must be light, safe, not harmful to health, and not interfere with the academic curriculum. In addition, the following are strictly prohibited for minor employees:

• heavy and dangerous labor;
• night shifts;
• overtime work.

Reduced schedule and full pay

For workers under 18 years old, a reduced working time is established:

• from 14 to 16 years old – no more than 23 hours per week;
• from 16 to 18 years old – no more than 35 hours per week.

If a teenager combines work with studies, during the school year the