Labour law changes for child actors in TV ads

Children aged over 10 years can work a maximum of four hours a day and cannot remain on set for longer than 10 hours. In respect of a child, 10 years and younger, only three hours per day working and eight hours on set.

If the child is aged younger than five, then six hours maximum is permissible on set. Further to this, no film director may force a child to perform when the child is not responding. A 30-minute rest break is also mandatory after two hours of continuous work.

According to Dave Gillard, Fresh Eye Film Director: "In my opinion, these new regulations will reduce the casting of children and this element will most likely be replaced by more animation."