A number of employment-related regulations have just been published, regulating the employment of young people and of new or expectant mothers.

Young persons (employment) regulations

The legal notice generally prohibits the employment of children and regulates the employment conditions of adolescents and young persons.

Children under the age of 16 can only be employed for certain activities, and after having obtained the necessary permit from the education authorities.

Adolescents between the age of 16 and 18 can be employed, but subject to certain working conditions.

These regulations are intended to ensure that young people have working conditions which suit their age and are protected against economic exploitation and against any work that is likely to harm their safety, health, moral or social development or jeopardise their education.

these regulations shall come into force on 5 april 2004.

protection of maternity (employment) regulations

the purpose of these regulations is to lay down minimum requirements designed to safeguard the employment rights of pregnant employees, employees who have recently given birth and breastfeeding employees.

amongst the measures contemplated are temporary adjustments to working hours and the work environment, the reassignment to suitable alternative work, the provision of special maternity leave and the payment of a special allowance during such period. employers are also obliged to reassign the employees to their original jobs after the lapse of these periods.

These regulations shall come into force on 5th january 2004.

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