Page 41 - Workplace Relations Guide to Employment Law

Workplace Relations Commission -
Guide to Employment, Labour and Equality Law

7 Employment of Children
and Young Persons

General The 1996 Act further provides for the setting
of limits to the working hours of young
While the employment of children under people (i.e. 16 and 17 year olds) and for rest
16 is generally prohibited by the Protection intervals and prohibits night work.
of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996, a
child over 14 years may be permitted to do As regards working hours, young people (16
light work during school holidays provided and 17 year olds) may not work for more than
it is not harmful to health, development or 8 hours in any day or 40 hours in any week.
schooling or may be employed as part of
an approved work experience or education Employers who employ young people under
programme. A child over 15 may also do such 18 years of age must display a summary of the
work for up to 8 hours a week during school Act (available in poster form), and also give a
term. Any child under 16 may be employed in summary of the Act to the employee within 1
film, theatre, sports or advertising activities month of the commencement of employment.
under licence from the Minister for Jobs,
5
Enterprise and Innovation . Proceedings for contraventions of the
provisions of the 1996 Act may be taken
An employer wishing to employ anyone by the Workplace Relations Commission
under 18 must first require the production or by the employee’s trade union (with
of their birth certificate. Before employing certain exceptions) within 12 months of the
a child under 16 the employer must also alleged breach. Young people and parents/
get written permission from the parents guardians (of a child) may also refer certain
or guardian. contraventions of the Act to the Workplace
Relations Commission for adjudication.

5 Applications for such licences are received and processed by the Workplace Relations Commission

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