Written Answers. - Student Employment.
Brendan Howlin
Question:
311
Mr. Howlin
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
his Department's policy in relation to students in second level education who work part time; the policy in relation to the protection of rights of such students; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11643/03]
The Deputy will be aware that the regulation of the employment of young people under the terms of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 allows a young person of 15 years or older to work up to eight hours per week during the school year subject to the stipulation that such employment finishes no later than 8 p.m. During holiday time 14 and 15 year olds can work up to 35 hours per week providing their employment finishes no later than 8 p.m. This legislation is monitored by the inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Act precludes young people between the ages of 16 and 18 and who are still at school, from working after 10 p.m. on any night when there is school the following day.
In the current economic climate, there is a temptation for young people to concentrate on employment to the detriment of their studies. Parents, schools and my Department have a role to play in countering this. Clearly the influence of parents is paramount in providing the best and most supportive environment for their children. It is also very important that we support schools in ensuring that their pupils remain within the system to completion of senior cycle. In this context, in 2002, my Department introduced the school completion programme, SCP, which is a new and significantly expanded programme to deal with early school leaving incorporating the learning, experience and best practice derived from previous early school leaving initiatives and assimilates the eight to 15 early school leaver initiative, ESLI, and stay-in-school retention initiative at second level, SSRI.
The objective of the school completion programme is to provide a range of interventions in areas of disadvantage that support the retention of young people in education. It is based on an integrated approach involving primary and post primary schools, parents, communities and relevant statutory and voluntary agencies.
With regard to enforcement of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996, the labour inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment carries out both day time and night time work as part of its normal conditions of service. The night time element of its duties is almost exclusively related to the work of the enforcement of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996.
In addition, the employment rights information unit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment concluded a proactive awareness campaign last year whereby all secondary schools were circulated with information on all aspects of employment law, including details of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996. Staff of that unit also visit secondary schools, citizen information centres and other organisations to disseminate information on general labour law, including the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996.
If there is evidence that employers are breaking the requirements of the Act, I would ask that these be brought to the attention of the labour inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for investigation and further action.
