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EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PERSONS
The employment of children who are under compulsory school leaving age is restricted
by statutory legislation and bye-laws.
Employment of children in West Ham is limited to the delivery of newspapers, milk or
bread. They are usually boys, but occasionally a girl wishes to undertake work of this
nature. The medical officer carrying out the examination gives a certificate on the
condition of the child at the time of the examination, to the effect that the employment
will not be prejudicial to the health or physical development of the child, and will not
render him unfit to obtain proper benefit from hi education.
The number submitted for examination since 194 has declined, being 229, that
year and 121 in 1958,one of whom was found unfit. The number of certificates granted
for girls to participate in singing and dancing remained fairly constant up to 1955,
when the number was 52. This year it is sixteen.
THE SCHOOL LEAVER AND EMPLOYMENT
Unsuitability for certain occupations
It is in the childrens' interest that the School Health and Youth Employment
Services should work closely together during the last two years of the child's school
life, and one of the duties which the former should perform for the school leaver is
to give the Youth Employment Officer an indication of the child's fitness for employment.
At the last medical inspection, the School Medical Officer has in mind the child's
future employment, and, where appropriate, completes a specially designed form indicating
type of employment for which the child is not fitted.
It is found, in practice, that restrictions are most frequently recommended on
account of eye strain and defective vision. Next in order of frequency are those
involving heavy manual work, exposure to bad weather, prolonged standing, much walking
or quick movement from place to place, and work in a damp or dusty atmosphere.
In the case of handicapped children a special form is used. In addition to
listing the unsuitable types of employment the form includes a section for recording
the nature of the child's disability, its probable duration, and its bearing on the
obtaining or keeping of suitable employment.
Parental consent must be obtained for passing the above information to the Youth
Employment Officer, and in selected cases, to the Disablement Advisory Committee, for
the purpose of registration under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act. During the
year seven reports were submitted for this purpose.
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