The Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Young workers: force majeure

34.—(1) Regulations 6, 8, 12(2) and 14(4) do not apply in relation to a young worker where the employer requires the young worker to undertake work which no adult worker is available to perform and which—

(a) is occasioned by either—

(i) an occurrence due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances, beyond the employer’s control, or

(ii) exceptional events, the consequences of which could not have been avoided despite the exercise of all due care by the employer;

(b) is of a temporary nature; and

(c) must be performed immediately.

(2) Where the application of regulation 6, 8, 12(2) or 14(4) is excluded by paragraph (1), and a young worker is accordingly required to work during a period which would otherwise be a rest period or rest break, the employer shall allow the young worker to take an equivalent period of compensatory rest within the following three weeks.