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Thursday, 17 February, 2000, 14:05 GMT

Child labour campaign launched

Thousands of posters and leaflets are being distributed in Glasgow to highlight new byelaws on the employment of children under 16.

The publicity drive is being undertaken by the city council, which wants to bring the legislation to the attention of parents, pupils and employers.

About 3,000 pupils aged between 13 and 15 are thought to be doing part-time jobs in Glasgow. The byelaws require children under 16 to have a work permit.

It is important employers understand that they have a responsibility towards youngsters, particularly those still at school
Rita Rusk, hairdresser

A BBC survey last year found that the majority of children who work in Glasgow were doing so illegally.

The research found that of 751 third year pupils from four secondary schools who were interviewed, more than half had part-time jobs and 96% who worked were doing so without a licence.

Employers will be specifically targeted in the campaign as they have the legal responsibility to apply for a work permit.

Byelaws contents

The byelaws say children aged 13, 14 or 15 can only be employed in "light work".

This includes delivering newspapers, stacking supermarket shelves, gardening or work in cafes and restaurants, corner shops, offices, hotels or hairdressing salons.

Children under 16 are banned from delivering milk or fuel oils, working in nursing homes, fairgrounds or amusement arcades, collecting or sorting rubbish and working in cinemas, theatres, discos or nightclubs. Milkfloat

Those aged 10 to 12 years can only be employed doing occasional light work by their parents. Children under 10 cannot work at all.

Education committee convener Councillor Bob Gray said: "These rules allow children to take on a part-time job or a holiday job with all the social and economic benefits.

"But the byelaws also protect children and it is important that any work they do does not affect their education or their general health and welfare."

Simplified procedure

The new procedures for applying for a work permit have been streamlined and simplified.

Application forms and leaflets are available from secondary schools and from the education services headquarters in India Street.

Internationally acclaimed hairdresser Rita Rusk was one of the first employers in the city to get a work permit for one her Saturday staff, 14-year old Adele Kerr, a pupil at Cleveden Secondary School.

"We have many youngsters at school looking for jobs and perhaps a future career in hairdressing", she said.

"It is important employers understand that they have a responsibility towards youngsters, particularly those still at school."

The council's information pack also spells out the hours pupils can work.

They must only do up to two hours part time work on school days between 0700 and1900 but not during hours they should be at school.

On Saturdays and school holidays the maximum hours worked vary from up to five hours if the child is under 15 and up to eight hours for 15-year-olds with a maximum of 25 or 35 hours a week respectively.

Related to this story:
Glasgow's illegal child workers exposed (21 Apr 99 | UK)
Children's role in street industry (27 Jan 00 | Scotland)
UN to tackle child labour in India (14 Jan 99 | South Asia)

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