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48
EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
These Agencies, which include "au-pair" agencies are licenced
annually and inspection of the records kept by these firms is carried out
to ensure that the provisions of the Act are complied, in most cases the
premises concerned are also subject to the provisions of the Offices,Shops
and Railway Premises Act, 1963.
There are 90 agencies registered and regularly inspected in the Borough.
SHOPS ACTS. 1950 - 65
The Shops Acts include the Regulation of the working hours of shop
assistants. 1,029 inspections were made under the Shops Acts; infringements
remedied were as follows:—
Hours of closing 46
Notices to be exhibited or amended 28
Meal Intervals not granted to Staff 4
Opening Hours of Launderettes 3
An increasing number of enquiries and complaints have been received
from shop assistants concerning their hours and conditions of employment.
Most of the complaints were made anonymously and the persons concerned
were advised of the provisions of the Shops Acts. In other cases warnings
were given to employers regarding contraventions.
Circular letters were sent to all motor traders in the Borough advising
them on all the requirements of the Shops Acts, 1950/65, applicable to their
business, e.g., prohibition of sale of new and second-hand motor vehicles on
a Sunday: employment of staff, with special emphasis to Sunday employment
in the sale of petrol and motor accessories: and to statutory compensatory
holidays in lieu of Sunday employment, in addition to the weekly half-holiday:
and statutory meal intervals and the control of hours of employees under the
age of 18.
PROSECUTIONS
There were no prosecutions under the Acts during the year.
The management of an entertainment centre conducted a sale of antiques
after the general closing hour contrary to Sections 2 and 12 of the Shops Act,
1950. The Town Clerk sent a letter of warning to the solicitors acting for the
management who gave an undertaking not to conduct such ssles after the
general closing hours.
A complaint was dealt with concerning a D.I.Y. shop trading on a Sunday
contrary to the Shops Act 1950. Action taken by the Department secured compliance
with the Act.