Amund Høglund is helping to organize yet another concert at the popular Foynhagen in Tønsberg. The 16-year-old sets the table, carries things to their place, refills goods and does the dishes. Amund Høglund says he didn’t mind working later evenings than he does today. Photo: Håkon Lie / news – I think it’s a nice job, and it’s really easy money, says the Tønsberg boy. As the rules are today, he is not allowed to work longer than 11pm. As a rule, his working day ends at 9pm. – It would have been fun to see what it is like here in the evenings. I would think it would have been easier for my bosses too, if more people could work at the same time, says Høglund. – Makes no sense Deputy leader of the Conservative Party, Henrik Asheim, says the party now proposes that young people aged 15 to 18 in summer jobs should be allowed to work until midnight, if they wish. – Today they have to finish at 11pm, and that makes no sense. Especially considering that our companies need labor more than ever before, says Asheim. Just before the summer, Nav came up with figures showing that Norway lacks more than 70,000 people for jobs throughout the country. Then the current regulations become incomprehensible, Asheim and Høyre believe. There are some exceptions today that make it possible for a 17-year-old to work longer than until 11 p.m. They can work until midnight if they are doing the dishes, doing cleaning or doing light duty. – Those exceptions make the regulations even more incomprehensible, because it means that a 17-year-old can stand washing dishes until midnight, but not carry out food to the guests. This means that restaurants that lack labor in high season must send home those who can do the work they need done, says Asheim. – Can your proposal lead to a less considerate working life for young workers? – No, I really don’t think so. At the same time, we say that they should not work more than 40 hours a week. Henrik Asheim (H) believes that the current rules for employment of those under 18 are both complicated and unnecessary. Photo: Torkil Stoltz / news Could hire more under 18s General manager of the concert venue Foynhagen in Tønsberg, Kim Alexander Holmøy, likes the Høyre’s proposal. Kim Alexander Holmøy welcomes a rule change. Then they can hire more people under 18. Photo: Håkon Lie / news – It would have simplified our logistics a lot. It is important to give the young people work experience, and we find that they want to work longer. Holmøy says that the young people can do all kinds of things other than serving alcohol, such as handling tickets, standing at the door, being firemen and cleaning. Today, they have employed seven people under the age of 18. There could have been many more. – We have had to say no to around 15 people because we do not have enough tasks for them within the time limit that is today. Nicoline Pedersen, who is responsible for employment at Foynhagen, believes that a rule change would mean a lot for the entire catering industry. – I think it would be a relief for many. There are few applicants and there is a battle for the people now. Getting young people in early would have helped a lot. – An exceptionally bad idea Trine Lise Sundnes in the Labor Party’s parliamentary group has no sense of the proposal from the Conservative Party. – I think this is an exceptionally bad idea. Working hours for children and young people under the age of 18 are set so that the work does not prevent them from going to school, she says. Although the proposal is most relevant for young people in summer jobs, Sundnes believes that extended working hours for young people would stretch the rope too far in relation to the convention on the prohibition of child labour. – The proposal Asheim comes up with helps to stretch those boundaries and undermine the intention that it is school and education that should primarily be focused on for young people. – In the Labor Party, we think it is more important to invest in getting adults into working life and into workplaces, rather than filling them up with 15-year-olds, she says.
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The Conservative Party wants to let young people under the age of 18 work until midnight – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
