Inspections of young people in workplace soars

A MAJOR crackdown on the exploitation of young people working in bars, hotels and restaurants has led to a 60% rise in labour inspections.

Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner show inspections under the Protection of Young Persons in Employment Act jumped from 2,007 in 2005 to 3,347 last year. The as yet unpublished statistics also relate to checks undertaken by inspectors in shops and retail outlets.

Inspections are designed to protect the health of young workers and ensure work carried out during school years does not put their education at risk.

Under the law, employers cannot hire under 16s in regular full-time jobs and those aged 14 can only work during summer holidays. In addition, it is illegal to require employees under 16 to work before 8am in the morning or after 8pm at night.

Over half the checks by inspectors in 2006 of young employees took place at nighttime where it is thought the greatest number of breaches occurred in pubs and hotels.

“It should be noted that labour inspectorate activity is generally carried out on the basis of complaint investigation or a mix of planned/targeted sectoral and random inspections,” a Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment statement to the Irish Examiner read.

Of the premises with young employees visited, 210 were found breaking the law and now face fines of nearly €2,000 and €317 a day thereafter for continued breaches.

Overall labour inspection numbers last year tripled, rising to some 15,825, with other increases under the Organisation of Working Time, the National Minimum Wage and the Payment of Wages Acts.

However, there was only a tiny increase in checks on payments in the construction, agriculture, catering and other sectors (+8%) — under the Industrial Relations Acts — where payments start above the minimum wage. This is despite the increased number of migrant workers operating on farms and building sites.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions welcomed the increased protection of young people.

“This is good to see as young people are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, working to the detriment of their schooling.

“There’s also a greater pressure on them to have cash and greater incomes,” said official Macdara Doyle.

However, ICTU warned other labour areas seem neglected. The minor rise in sector pay checks was “ludicrous”, said the spokesman, considering the already known abuses in the mushroom-picking and construction sectors.