New rules protect working mothers, young people

New employment regulations, which have just come into force, have given more protection to new or expectant mothers and to young people.

Regulations related to maternity lay down that pregnant employees, employees who have recently given birth and breastfeeding employees now have their employment assured.

Their wages, too, cannot be less favourable than those stipulated in their contract of employment.

The employer must protect the health and safety of an employee should an assessment reveal any risk to her pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Measures could include the temporary adjustment of the woman's working environment and hours of work or her assignment to alternative work appropriate for her in the circumstances.

Employers are obliged to reassign the woman to the same job when the period in question is over. When this is not possible for a valid reason, the employer will have to assign similar work that would be in line with the employee's original contract of employment.

During the special maternity leave, the employer will pay the employee a special allowance equivalent to the rate of sickness benefit, for a period of eight weeks.

A pregnant employee may apply for maternity leave for an uninterrupted period of 14 weeks. Six weeks must be taken immediately after the date of confinement, four weeks are to be availed of immediately before the expected date of confinement and the remainder can be taken immediately before or after these periods as the employee may request.

An employee on maternity leave is entitled to full wages during the first 13 weeks of such leave, with the 14th week being unpaid.

The regulations on young persons, put into effect through a legal notice, prohibit work being done by children.

However, they establish that an employer who wishes to employ children under the age of 16 for cultural, artistic, sports or advertising activities can apply for a permit from the education authorities.

Adolescents, considered to be people between the ages of 16 and 18, are not allowed to work for more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Certain sections of the regulations do not apply to certain sectors such as shipping or fisheries, hospitals, agriculture, the tourism industry, hotels and catering.