XN000022-1982-09-30 — Page 13

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1982

IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE ENFORCEMENT OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, THE EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISION) ORDINANCE 1979 AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS 1979 HAVE BEEN ENACTED WHICH PROHIBIT THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 15 IN INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.

HOWEVER, CHILDREN OF AND OVER 13 MAY WORK PART-TIME IN NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS PROVIDED THAT THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS HAVE CONSENTED IN WRITING TO THE EMPLOYMENT AND CAN PRODUCE VALID SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES.

+BUT THESE CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE EMPLOYED IN ANY PROHIBITED OCCUPATIONS AS SPECIFIED IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

CHILDREN UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE MAY BE EMPLOYED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, SUBJECT TO STRINGENT CONTROLS AND WITH THE PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, HE SAID.

THESE AND OTHER CHILDREN WITHIN THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION AGE GROUP WHO WISH TO WORK PART-TIME MUST POSSESS VALID SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE ATTENDING A FULL SECONDARY OR PRIMARY COURSE.

THEY MUST ALSO HAVE THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES MUST ALSO BE MADE BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS DIRECT TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.

ALL SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES ARE VALID ONLY UP TO SEPTEMBER 30 EACH YEAR, AFTER WHICH RE-APPLICATION WILL BE NECESSARY.

CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED BY LAW REGARDING THE WORK ING HOURS AND CONDITIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND STUDIES OF CHILDREN WORKING PART-TIME.

A CHILD SHOULD NOT BE AT WORK BEFORE 7 AM OR AFTER 7 PM 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 OTHER DAYS, DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS HE SHOULD NOT WORK FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS ON ANY DAY.

HOWEVER, CHILDREN WORKING AS ENTERTAINERS MAY BE EMPLOYED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 12 MIDNIGHT BUT NOT DURING SCHOOL HOURS OR FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS ON ANY DAY. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE EMPLOYED FOR MORE THAN FOUR DAYS IN A WEEK, AND DURING SCHOOL TERM, MORE THAN THREE DAYS FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY.

+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, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.