ELECTIVE 3 SOCIAL STUDIES Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996
• This act protects the health of young workers and ensures that work carried out when attending school does not impact on a young person’s educational progress.
• It sets minimum age limits for employment, rest intervals and maximum working hours. Children (14–15 years)
Working hours • Employers cannot employ children aged under 16 in regular, full-time jobs
• Children aged between 14 and 15 can complete up to 35 hours’ light work during the school holidays per week
• Children aged between 14 and 15 can complete up to 40 hours’ work as part of an approved work experience per week
• Children aged 15 may complete eight hours’ of light work a week in school term time
• Written permission from a parent is needed before taking up a job
• They must provide employers with a copy of their birth certificate as proof of age
Rest intervals
• A half hour rest break after every four hours • A half hour rest break after every four and a half hours
Times of work • Only permitted to work between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
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• Only permitted to work between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Wage payment • Paid the national minimum wage of €6.41 per hour (under 18 years of age) Explain how the rights of young people in part-time work are protected. (10) OL
Outline the protection provided by the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, (1996). (10) OL Give two examples of how legislation protects the rights of people in employment. (10) HL
Discuss how changes in the availability of work have affected individuals and families in Ireland. (20) HL
Discuss the impact of social, economic and technological changes on patterns of work and work availability in Ireland. (24) HL
The role of unpaid and voluntary work in the community
Role of unpaid work in the community • Unpaid work that is home based, e.g. caring for an elderly parent, reduces the reliance on state resources, e.g. home nurses, freeing up supports for other people.
520 Complete Home Economics
Young people (16–17 years)
• Young people aged between 16 and 17 can complete up to 40 hours’ work per week with a maximum of eight hours a day
• They must provide employers with a copy of their birth certificate as proof of age
