Thomas Pringle
Question:230. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the conditions of the employment of a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46359/23]
View answerTuesday, 24 October 2023
Questions (230)
Written answers
The Protection of Employment Act 1996 sets out different rules for young workers, depending on their age. Workers aged 14 and 15 are classed as ‘children’. Workers aged 16 and 17 are classed as ‘young persons’.
Young persons aged 16 and 17 years are not permitted to start work before 6.00 a.m. They must finish work at 10.00 p.m. on days preceding a school day. They may work up to 11.00 p.m. on days where they have no school the next day: in such instances they must not start work before 7.00 a.m. the next day. Work past 10.00 p.m. is subject to Ministerial approval by Regulation.
Young persons aged 16 and 17 years must be given a 30-minute break after working 4½ hours. They are entitled to 12 hours off in every 24 hours and 2 days off in every 7 days.
In addition to the normal statutory records employers must keep the following records for children and young persons employed by them -
• full name
• date of birth
• time work begins each day
• time work finishes each day
• rate of wages or salary paid per day, week, month or year, as appropriate
• total amount of wages or salary paid to each person
Employers must also post up, in a suitable location accessible to staff, a copy of a poster issued by the Workplace Relations Commission which outlines the child's or young person's rights and entitlements.
The law on young workers employed in licensed premises is set out in the Protection of Young Persons Act 1996 (Employment in Licensed Premises) Regulations 2001. These Regulations provide that during school term, young persons can only work until 11pm on a day that is not immediately before a school day. A special Code of Practice Concerning the Employment of Young Persons in Licensed Premises is in place governing employment of 16 and 17 years olds, and which must be signed by the employer, the employee and his/her parent or guardian.