Employers face 'child worker checks'

Date: 9th May 2008

Employers could soon be facing checks on the suitability of their staff in supervising work experience candidates, it as been revealed.

The government is planning to introduce a system that would aim to reassure children and their parents that a particular business is a secure environment through an Independent Safeguarding Authority (Isa).

However, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that the process would be unjustifiably expensive to operate and would hinder the smooth running of work experience placements that have some worthwhile benefits for British industry.

Writing to secretary of state for children, schools and families Ed Balls on the issue, the FSB's chairman John Wright said: "The intentions of the scheme are of course absolutely sound, but there must be a way of protecting young people who may be at risk without diminishing the opportunities of thousands of school pupils every year."

Earlier this month, Norwich Union published a document intended to remind businesses of the responsibilities they have to ensure the safety of young people they take on as employees.