The police are investigating allegations that a now bankrupt County Antrim haulage firm, Reid Transport of Cloughmills, was using child labour before it went into administration.
A teenager has claimed that he was employed by the company, at the age of 14, to work late into the night for up to five nights a week. The youth exclaimed that, "The money was great, but I was definitely tired. I enjoyed my work, I got up for school, I managed." Further, the teenage stated, "Nothing was ever said. I was just brought in, I did the work, I got paid, that was it. No-one ever questioned me."
The allegation was made after North Antrim MLA, Daithi McKay of Sinn Fein claimed in the assembly that children as young as 14 were working night shifts at the beleaguered haulage firm. He said sacked workers on the picket line told him some employees had been working more than 70 hours a week.
Barrister Jill Brown, an expert in employment law has emphasised that children aged between 14 and 16 are only allowed to work very restricted hours. However, she stated that, "It does happen quite regularly that children are employed... beyond the hours that they are supposed to be."
Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey has said that he has referred the most serious allegations to the police.
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