GUIDELINES on the employment of young people are set out in the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996:

Age Limits

For a regular job, the minimum age is 16 but employers may take on 14- and 15-year-olds on "light work": part-time during school term (over 15 years only); as part of an approved work experience or educational programme; during the school holidays, provided there is a minimum three-week break from work in the summer. Any child under 16 may be employed in film, theatre, sports or advertising under licence.

Maximum Hours Per Week

The maximum working hours for 14-year-olds are 35 hours a week of holiday work with no work permitted during term time.

At 15, young people may, again, put in 35 hours per week of holiday work. They can also work a maximum of eight hours a week during term time.

Time Limits

Students under 16 years of age are allowed to work after 8 a.m. and up to 8 p.m. only, while 16and 17-year-olds are permitted to work after 6 a.m. and up to 10 p.m. if they have school the next morning. If they don't have school the next day, this is extended to 11 p.m., with the proviso they don't work before 7 a.m. the next day. Minimum rest breaks are also specified under the Act.

The full provisions of the Act do not apply to close relatives or employment in fishing, shipping or the Defence Forces.

Employers' Duties

Employers must see a copy of the birth certificate and, for under 16year-olds, they must also get the written permission of the parent or guardian.

They must keep a register containing particulars of each person under 18 years of age who are employed, including details of time when work begins and ends each day as well as rate of pay.

Complaints About Breaches Of The Act

These may be made in confidence to the Employment Rights Section, Department of Enterprise and Employment, Davitt House, 65A Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 - phone (01) 661 4444.