WORKING
TIME REGULATIONS
GOVERNMENT
RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUNG
WORKERS DIRECTIVE
The points made by
respondents to the consultation largely reflect issues which we
considered in reaching the balance struck in our original
proposals, such as the protection of young workers’ health and
safety and education, and the cost of making businesses change
their working practices.
However, the argument
that it will cause confusion to exclude bars and restaurants from
the list of those sectors where young people may work up till
midnight and from 4am, while including hotels and catering, seems
valid. In the light of these points, we have now refined the
proposals to reinstate bars and restaurants, for a trial period of
three years, in the list of those sectors where young people may
work up till midnight and from 4am.
Furthermore,
representatives of the film and television production industry
requested an exemption from the night work provisions to
accommodate filming at night where necessary for production, such
as where night scenes can only be shot after dark or where access
to a particular location or public area can only be obtained at
night. In these circumstances, we would not wish to prevent young
workers working at night, but we consider the current proposals
permit this.
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