The Labour Department warns school leavers and summer job-seekers to beware of employment traps and to be realistic and cautious when looking for jobs.

It issued an advisory today warning that youngsters should beware of dubious recruitment advertisements, especially for highly-paid positions requiring few skills or academic qualifications. They should also pay attention to the major provisions of the Employment Ordinance to avoid being owed wages by employers and unnecessary labour disputes.

They should make sure they understand and accept all contract terms before signing an employment contract. If the employer proposes to vary the employment terms or work nature after a contract is signed, they should obtain detailed information about these changes before considering whether to accept them.

Job-seekers should decline work that involves unlawful or immoral behaviour, and think carefully before accepting demands from an employer to pay fees, such as registration fees, or cash payment for training, investment or purchase of goods.

Job-seekers should beware of the situation that swindlers, under the pretext of recruitment, may obtain from them personal data, such as information on bank accounts and credit cards, for unlawful purposes.

They should immediately consult their parents, teachers or Police if they have any doubts or problems.

Wage warning

Under the Employment Ordinance, employers have to pay wages to employees within seven days upon the expiry of a wage period or termination of an employment contract.

Young job-seekers are also advised to pay particular attention to occupational safety. They should carefully assess their own capabilities before taking up a job and pay close attention to the work environment to identify possible hazards. They should also follow the safety guidelines provided by their employers.

The department said the most common accidents involving summer job workers were slips or trips, striking against objects, injuries by hand tools, and contact with hot surfaces or substances.

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

Under the law, people under 18 are not allowed to operate any power-driven lifting appliances or load-shifting 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 people under 18 to work on construction sites.

The department has produced posters and leaflets for distribution at secondary schools, universities, public libraries, youth centres and the Home Affairs Department's district offices. Click here for more information or call 2717 1771.