FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1979
MOVE TO EXTEND PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN
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A BILL WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY) TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, KNOWN AS THE EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1979, IS EXPECTED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT MONTH.
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT WAS A STEP DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO INTRODUCE COMPULSORY JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION.
HE RECALLED A STATEMENT MADE BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5, 1977 WHICH OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO EXTEND BY TWO STAGES THE EXISTING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.
THE INTENTION WAS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYMENT WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH A CHILD'S SCHOOLING, BUT FLEXIBILITY WOULD BE HAINTAINED TO ALLOW FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT, PARTICULARLY IN FAMILY BUSINESSES OR SUMMER JOBS, THOSE WHO HAD COMPLETED THE IR FORM IH EDUCATION BEFORE REACHING 15 YEARS OF AGE WOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED TO WORK IF THEY SO WISHED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER 14 IS PROHIBITED.
THE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE SO AS TO SET A MINIMUM AGE FOR ALL FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT UNDER ONE LEGISLATION. CONSEQUENTLY, AMENDMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS AND CHILDREN AT SEA ORDINANCE AND THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE, ALL OF WHICH DEAL WITH THE MINIMUM AGE OF EMPLOYMENT IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
BY THESE AMENDMENTS, NO CHILD UNDER 14 WILL, WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1979, BE ALLOWED TO BE EMPLOYED IN ANY OCCUPATION, AND NO CHILD UNDER 15 WILL, WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1980, BE ALLOWED TO BE EMPLOYED IN ANY OCCUPATION, EXCEPT FAMILY BUSINESSES, PART- TIME EMPLOYMENT OR SUMMER JOBS IN THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.
UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR WILL HAVE THE POWER TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS FOR SOME CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYMENT, SUCH AS CHILD ENTERTAINERS ON TELEVISION PROGRAMMES, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
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