The Protection of Young People at Work-6 Complaints to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)

young people at work

Do you employ young people for the summer, or at weekends and holidays?

Are you a retailer?

I know I did when I was in retailing; in fact, I was delighted to get students in for the summer because they were enthusiastic and flexible, and just wanted to make a few bob for the summer.

The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996 is an easy one to fall foul of. Here are 6 offences under the Act, all of which can be brought to the Workplace Relations Commission as complaints.

  1. A child has been employed unlawfully

The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 provides protection for young people at work. Sections 3(1) and 4(1) are the relevant sections. In this legislation a child is a person under the age of 16 years.

There are particular rules for a child over the age of 14 and over the age of 15, but not yet 16 years.

Learn more about the protection of young persons at work here.

  1. Failure to grant a child rest breaks

Section 4 of The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 provides protection in respect of rest breaks.

  1. The unlawful employment of a young person

A young person, as defined in this act, is a person who has reached the age of 16 but is less than 18 years.

Section 6(1) of The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 is the relevant section of the Act.

  1. The double employment of a child or young person

Section 10 of The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 prevents two employers from allowing a child/young person’s total work hours exceeding their limit.

  1. Proper records are not being kept

Section 15 of The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 obliges the employer to keep records in respect of the employment of children/young persons in order to demonstrate that the act is being complied with.

  1. The employer has not displayed the required piece of the The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 at the workplace.

Section 12 of The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) act, 1996 prescribes a particular piece of the act which must be displayed prominently at the entrance to the workplace.