Child Employment Week to promote safety and legality for youngsters in work

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council is joining other local authorities in raising awareness of the issues surrounding child employment.

During Child Employment Week, which runs from July 28, officers will identify where children are working during the school holiday period, giving employers appropriate information regarding the laws affecting the employment of school-age children, as laid out in the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended).

Any child in employment must have a work permit and risk assessment for the job they are undertaking. Children who are working illegally will not be covered by employers insurance.

Every year almost 60 children under the age of 16 are killed or seriously injured whilst working. Most of the deaths and accidents involving young people would have been avoided if a risk assessment had been undertaken.

Sue Seiles, principal education welfare officer, said: “We are not trying to stop children working, rather to ensure they are safe so no child is seriously injured or killed. There are over 200 laws which cover child employment. Local byelaws in place across the county mean that what is permitted in one area may not be permitted in another. However, the purpose of the awareness raising campaign is to ensure that children engaged in part time employment are doing so safely and within the law.

Officers are encouraging employers and parents who are unsure of the law to attend one of a series of drop-in sessions which are being arranged for the week. Officers from Humberside Fire and Rescue and North East Lincolnshire Council’s licensing and environmental services have been invited to attend the events.

Drop in sessions will be held on:

• Monday July 28 at: Immingham Resource Centre, 10am to 11am; and Grimsby Town Hall, 2pm to 3pm.
• Tuesday July 29 at Cleethorpes Town Hall, 10am to 11am.
• Wednesday July 30 at Immingham Resource Centre, 2pm to 4pm.
• Thursday July 31 at Cleethorpes Town Hall, 2pm to 4pm.
• Friday August 1 at Grimsby Town Hall, 10am to 11am.

Officers will be visiting employers throughout the week who may be employing young people, advising them of the correct procedures to follow.

Parents or employers requiring further information should contact the Education Welfare Service on 01472 323208 or log onto www.nelincs.gov.uk/education/educationwelfareservice/ for further information.

Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: “I’m glad this issue is coming to the attention of our community. We certainly don’t want to stop children working or demonise anyone who is employing them. However, working can affect academic performance and, if unchecked, can pose a risk to a child’s health. If parents or employers are concerned about this issue, I suggest attending one of our drop in sessions to find out what measures can be taken.”