The
Government has announced new measures to protect young workers. New laws will
see around 40,000 workers aged between 16 and 17 protected from working
excessive or unsociable hours.
The
new regulations will come into effect on 6 April 2003. They affect the working
hours of those between minimum school-leaving age and their eighteenth
birthday. Their working time will be limited to:
–
40 hours a week
–
eight hours in any one day
–
night working prohibited between 10pm and 6am or 11pm and 7am.
Employment
Relations Minister, Alan Johnson said: "These new regulations will give
40,000 young people better rights without damaging their employment prospects.
Young people are a vulnerable section of the British workforce who deserve
additional protection. It is important that they get the protection they need
while maintaining flexibility in the labour market."
Some
sectors, including hospitals or similar establishments, agriculture, retail
trading, hotels or catering businesses, bakeries, fisheries and postal or
newspaper deliveries, are exempted from the night working restrictions because
of their particular operational needs.
