die sterreichische Film Commission

Employment of children is contingent upon the 1987 Federal Employment of Children and Youth Act.

Children, i.e. minors up to the completion of their 15th year of age or the end of mandatory secondary school education at an older age, may also be employed for filming in cases set out by law.

For this purpose, an authorization (fee-based) must be obtained from the provincial governor in which the photography, filming, television and acoustic recording are to take place (there are a total of nine provinces with nine provincial capitals). A statement of consent from the child’s legal representative (generally, the parents) must be enclosed with the application. A statement from a public health officer and/or ophthalmologist must also be submitted.

It is to be observed that during any public performance

• children can only be employed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., and not prior to morning school lessons
• a work-free, uninterrupted pause of one hour after morning school lessons and two hours after afternoon lessons must be observed
• it is permissible to employ children during school holidays, if it is ensured that the children are employed for no more than one third of the time of such holidays and only to the extent absolutely necessary. Filming, television and acoustic recordings must be of special cultural or public educational quality and must be impossible to be carried out at another time than during school holidays
• the producer’s reputation must be impeccable.

The obligation to obtain legal authorization from the provincial governor is waived in the case of youth between the ages of 15 and 18 who have completed their mandatory schooling. The provisions of the Children and Youth Employment Act must, however, be complied with. Aside from maintaining health protection and upholding standards of public decency, it is recommended to obtain the consent of the legal representative.