Regional News
OUT & ABOUT IN THE REGIONS
News items from around the Regions. If you require further information about any news items on this page please contact the NNCEE People & Regional Chairs for that area of the country to which the item refers.
SOUTH EAST REGION CHILD EMPLOYMENT WEEK
Local Authorities, who are members of this Region, went out and about over a one week period in August, visiting employers explaining the legislation in order to ensure that children engaged in part-time employment are doing so safely and within the law. Posters, leaflets, regional and local radio stations and newspapers all ran reports on the week together with local multiagency participation.
Main Findings from this survey were:-
- 30 Officers took part, 466 employers visited, 271 children found working, 226 children found to be working illegally (no permits, prohibited, contravention of number of hours working) and 79 follow-up action to employers required.
- the majority of cases where illegal employment was seen was the failure to apply for an employment permit (also known as work permit or employment card) from their local education authority. Some of this was through employers not being aware of the legislation regarding school age children.
- Permits enable local authorities to monitor: the hours of work, whether the work is prohibited (dangerous, health & safety concerns) in order to protect children in the work place.
- The survey clearly showed the need for this type of operation in order to further educate ill-informed employers and at the same time remain a strong reminder to companies of the need for strict compliance to the Children & Young Persons Act 1933 and local Child Employment Byelaws.
Child Employment Regulations are there to PROTECT children not to stop children working.
