The horrors and hazards of

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of 28 October Act were denied to young IN 1981-2 some 60% of the places on YOP schemes were provided by employers in the private sector of the economy, while the private percentage in Work Experience on Employers' Premises was much higher at almost 90%. Of 371,200 YOPs on work experience. schemes over the same period, 334,000 were in the private sector, the majority, according to Youth Aid's analysis "concentrated in small, low-paying, non-unionised workplaces.

A remarkable feature of the YOP scheme was all these young workers who between 1979 and 1982 went to work for employers were denied the humble status of 'employee' As a consequence cases of racial discrimination came to light where no redress could be sought through either the Race Relations or the Sex Discrimination Act.

The Guardian 1982 highlighted young black woman working in Lipton's Stores who was moved from counter service because a customer had objected to being served by a 'coloured girl'.

While her allegation was not disputed the tribunal chairman, Justice Neil, said her problem was that she had no legal employment contract with Liptons or the MSC. Consequently there was no one against whom she could lodge her complaint.

This lack of employee status also worked to deny YOPs legal protection against unfair dismissal. Young workers who were taken on full-time by an employ. er after a stint as a YOP found they had to start from scratch to build up the 52 week continuous service requirement.

Both the benefits of the Industrial Injuries legislation and the protection of the major parts of the Health and Safety at Work the case of a workers in this way.

Five YOPs killed between July 1980 and June 1981, and 23 who lost an arm or a leg, brings home the reality of the Youth Opportunities Programme.

It should be said that there were Environmental Health Officers and Factory Inspectors Hazards of being Minor Injury Fracture of sküll/spine/pelvis Other fractures Amputation of hand/foot Hospital admission (24 hours Deaths Severity unknown TOTAL who tried to protect young workers from the dangers that the MSC had cynically subjected them to. A Mr Shaw in Sheffield repeatedly visited a DIY Store where he suspected an unguarded circular saw was being used despite a prohibition notice he to 1981 2011

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YOUTH TRANSFER SCHEME ' IZA SOr ON.