XN000022-1979-08-28 — Page 5

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1979

4

SCHOOL CHILDREN OVER 13 MAY WORK PART-TIME

*****

CHILDREN WITHIN THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION AGE GROUP WHO ARE OVER 13 YEARS OLD MAY WORK PART-TIME OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS IN APPROVED NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE IR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, MR. P.S. SUN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (SERVICES) SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF LION ROCK NR SUN NOTED THAT REGULATIONS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN PASSED, PROHIBITING THE EMPLOYMENT IN INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS OF CHILDREN BELOW 14 FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1979, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN BELOW 15 WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1980,

THE REGULATIONS WERE INTRODUCED TO ASSIST IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION, MR. SUN SAID.

HOWEVER, CHILDREN WITHIN THE STATED AGE GROUPS MAY BE ALLOWED TO WORK PART-TIME IN NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

+CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF 13 AND WHO ARE ATTENDING A SCHOOL OFFERING A FULL SECONDARY OR PRIMARY COURSE, BUT HAVE NOT COMPLETED FORM 111 OF SECONDARY EDUCATION MAY BE EMPLOYED PART-TIME

IN NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.

+THEY MUST ALSO HAVE THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, AND POSSESS VALID SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, MR. SUN SAID.

CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LAID DOWN REGARDING WORKING HOURS AND CONDITIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND STUDIES OF CHILDREN WHO ARE WORKING, HE ADDED,

A CHILD SHOULD NOT BE AT WORK BEFORE 7 A.M. OR AFTER 7 P.M. ON ANY DAY, AND DURING SCHOOL HOURS ON ANY SCHOOL DAY.

DURING THE SCHOOL TERM, A CHILD SHOULD NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS ON ANY SCHOOL DAY OR MORE THAN FOUR HOURS ON ANY OTHER DAY- AND DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS HE SHOULD NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS ON ANY DAY.

+CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE AT WORK CONTINUOUSLY FOR MORE THAN FIVE HOURS AFTER WHICH THEY MUST HAVE AN INTERVAL OF NOT LESS THAN ONE HOUR FOR A MEAL OR REST.

+ALSO, THEY MUST NOT LIFT OR CARRY ANY LOAD EXCEEDING 18 KILOGRAMMES, ✦ MR. SUN SAID.

COMPULSORY EDUCATION WAS INTRODUCED IN 1971, AND WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER ALL CHILDREN AGED 14 AND BELOW WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR, AND AGAIN TO COVER CHILDREN AGED 15 AND BELOW WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1980.

+THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS SINCE 1971 ISSUED ONLY TWO ATTENDANCE ORDERS, AND IN BOTH CASES THE PARENTS HAVE CO-OPERATED AND SENT THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, + MR, SUN SAID.

15