𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

“Outdated” EU red tape that is locking teenagers out of summer jobs would be scrapped by the Tories to help youngsters get on the first rung of the career ladder. New plans backed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch include allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to take their breaks “at any point” during their shifts.

Meanwhile, young people in full-time education or training would be able to work until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays during term time. The Tories would remove all restrictions during school holidays. The party’s policy also means young people would not be required to take 48 hours off between shifts in a week – it would be reduced to 24 hours. The changes would be part of getting rid of “outdated” EU laws that restrict young people’s ability to work, as part of a Brexit “benefit”.

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said it would “save” the summer job and give employers confidence to hire younger people.

He said: “A generation of young people risk being locked out of work because of unnecessary red tape, higher taxes and economic uncertainty.

“Simplifying rules about when young people can work and take breaks will help save the summer job and give employers the confidence they need to hire a young person.

“Only the Conservatives have the team and the plan to get Britain working again, and stand up for summer jobs by slashing unnecessary red tape and scrapping the job-destroying parts of the Employment Rights Act, alongside abolishing business rates for most high-street and hospitality businesses and delivering our cheap power plan to cut business energy costs by 20%.”

The Conservatives pointed to the UK having the third-highest rate of young people not in education, employment or training in Europe, at more than one million people.

They said Labour had made it harder for young people to get work by raising employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Current laws mean workers aged 16 to 17 must take a 30-minute break every four and a half hours of work. The Conservatives would bring those rules in line with those for workers over 18.

Meanwhile, the law says young people should not work between 10pm and 6am, or between 11pm and 7am, depending on their contracts. The Conservatives said getting rid of this law would allow young people to work clearing up after pubs and bars have shut.

The move was welcomed by the chairwoman of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls. She said: “Sixty percent of first jobs were in hospitality. We give so many young people their first step on the career ladder.

“These sensible reforms will remove unnecessary barriers for businesses and give young people the opportunity to learn new skills and gain the confidence that comes with a first job.”