I am an admin on a popular railway forum, anda member has started to claim he is working for a TOC as a Trainee Guard. He is only 16. If he is a guard for this TOC then he is breaking the law, as he has obviously lied about his age.
Some other questions and queries I have about this…
As a 16 or 17 year old person, what is the maximum amount of hours they could work in a week?
What is the longest shift (including breaks) they could do in 1 day?
What hours of the day are they allowed to work? (IE. Nights, days, earlies or late shifts).
Workers aged 16 and 17: the rules
If workers are over the minimum school-leaving age but under 18, they must not work for more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week. If you employ anybody in this age group you must also give them:
a break of 30 minutes every four-and-a-half hours worked
a rest period of 12 hours between each working day
two days off a week
All 16 and 17-year-olds who are above compulsory school leaving age are entitled to a National Minimum Wage of £3.40 an hour. Apprentices under 19 are exempt from the National Minimum Wage. However, all employed apprentices funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in England must receive a minimum income of £80 per week.
Risk assessments
You must carry out, or review, a risk assessment, paying attention to the health and safety implications of employing young people. Consider their immaturity as well as their inexperience when you do this.
Under-18s may be employed in certain dangerous environments only if it is necessary for their training, and they are supervised and the risks are minimised.
If you’re under 18 but over school leaving age (you’re under school leaving age until the end of summer term of the school year in which you turn 16) you’re classed as a young worker. Under the law you’re not allowed to work at night (normally this is 10.00 pm to 6.00 am but you can agree to change this to 11.00 pm to 7.00 am). There are some exceptions to this (for example, if you work in a hospital or hotel). You can have 30 minutes rest break if you work longer than four and a half hours at a stretch.
Thankyou very much. As I know that a TOC will not break the law by employing someone under 18 to work on board trains, I now know that this person lied to get the job.
Bananaman:
Thankyou very much. As I know that a TOC will not break the law by employing someone under 18 to work on board trains, I now know that this person lied to get the job.
