School leavers and summer job seekers should beware of employment traps and pay special attention to labour legislation and occupational safety matters.

At a press briefing today, the Labour Department, the Police and the Consumer Council alerted them to beware of dubious recruitment advertisements, especially for highly paid positions requiring barely any skills or academic qualifications.

Before signing an employment contract, they should make sure they understand and accept the terms. They must decline jobs which may involve unlawful or immoral behaviour.

They must think carefully before accepting any demands from an employer for cash payment or monetary guarantees for training, investment or purchase of goods.

If they have any doubts or problems, they should consult immediately their parents, teachers or appropriate authorities such as the Police and the Consumer Council.

Summer job workers protected by law

Summer job workers are also protected by the Employment Ordinance, the Labour Department said.

All employees covered by the Ordinance enjoy basic rights and benefits irrespective of their working hours. These include payment of wages, restrictions on wage deduction and granting of statutory holidays.

Common employment traps include "Loco-London gold" - in which employers convince would-be employees to sign a  letter giving the company concerned absolute discretion to trade on their behalf - and "pyramid selling".

Job seekers should pay particular attention to occupational safety and health to avoid accidents and damage to their health.

They should carefully assess their own capabilities before taking up a job and pay close attention to the work environment to identify possible hazards.

Follow safety guidelines, use proper equipment 

They should use proper safety equipment and follow the safety guidelines provided by their employers to prevent work injuries.

Hazardous jobs such as those involving the operation of woodworking or dangerous machinery or the handling of chemicals may not be suitable for school leavers or summer job seekers, who are inexperienced and may not have received proper training.

Under the law, people under 18 years of age are not allowed to operate any powered-driven appliances and loadshifting machinery, or to give signals to the drivers of such lifting appliances. They are also not allowed to work on suspended working platforms or inside confined spaces.

The law also forbids untrained persons under the age of 18 to work on construction sites.

They should observe fire precaution measures in the workplace and familiarise themselves with fire escape routes so that they can respond properly in case of fire.