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Quiz: Your rights when working while under 18

How much do you know about your rights as an employee under the age of 18?

Written by Children's Rights Alliance and posted in life

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This factsheet is an extract from the publication Know Your Rights: The Rights of Children and Young People published by the Children's Rights Alliance. It is reproduced here with their kind permission. Know Your Rights is a public information project designed to inform everyone, in plain language, of the rights and entitlements children have in Ireland and where to go when they are not respected.

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Q1. When can I start working in Ireland?

Correct

Yes, in Ireland you can work from the age of 14 part-time and 16 full-time. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

No, in Ireland you can work from the age of 14 part-time and 16 full-time. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q2. How many hours a week can I work from the age of 16?

Correct

Correct! If you are 16 or 17, you can work up to 40 hours a week, but you cannot work more than eight hours each day. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. If you are 16 or 17, you can work up to 40 hours a week, but you cannot work more than eight hours each day. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q3. Do I have a right to equal pay under 18?

Correct

Correct! Young people are not entitled to equal pay with adults for the work they do. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. Young people are not entitled to equal pay with adults for the work they do. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q4. Can I work in the evenings or at night when I am 16 ?

Correct

Correct! If you are 16 or 17, you can only work between 6am and 10pm. If you work in a pub or other licensed premises, you can work until 11pm if the next day is not a school day. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. If you are 16 or 17, you can only work between 6am and 10pm. If you work in a pub or other licensed premises, you can work until 11pm if the next day is not a school day. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q5. Does my employer have any responsibilities to me as a young person in work?

Correct

Correct! Under law, your employer must give you a summary of your rights under the law, give you details of your terms of employment within one month of you starting the job and give you a payslip. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. Under law, your employer must give you a summary of your rights under the law, give you details of your terms of employment within one month of you starting the job and give you a payslip. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q6. Can I claim unemployment payments under the age of 18?

Correct

Correct. You can start paying social insurance from the age of 16, but you cannot claim unemployment payments until you are 18 years of age. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. You can start paying social insurance from the age of 16, but you cannot claim unemployment payments until you are 18 years of age. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q7. Can I complain if I feel that my employer is not treating me fairly or discriminating against me?

Correct

Correct! You can complain confidentially to the Workplace Relations Customer Services. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. You can complain confidentially to the Workplace Relations Customer Services. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Q8. What age can I volunteer?

Correct

Correct! There is no specific age for when you can volunteer from in Ireland, it will just depend on the organisation. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

Incorrect

Sorry, that is incorrect. There is no specific age for when you can volunteer from in Ireland, it will just depend on the organisation. Read our article on what age you can start working in Ireland to learn more.

So, how did you do?

You have completed 0 of 8 questions. Please complete them all.

Okay, it looks like you could learn more when it comes to your rights when working under the age of 18 in Ireland. Luckily for you we have loads of information on your rights in our Rights section.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service for 16 to 25 year olds is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

Okay, you got some questions right but there is room for improvement. If you want to learn more about your work rights while under the age of 18, visit our Rights section.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service for 16 to 25 year olds is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

Well done, you seem to know quite a bit about your work rights while under 18 in Ireland. If you want to learn more visit our Rights section, for information on a all your rights while under 18 in Ireland.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service for 16 to 25 year olds is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

Well done! You really know your stuff when it comes to your rights when working in Ireland under the age of 18. If you want to learn more about your rights in Ireland, visit our Rights section.

Need more information?

We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service for 16 to 25 year olds is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.

Published June 17th, 2020
Can this be improved? Contact editor@spunout.ie if you have any suggestions for this article.

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