The National Youth Council has formally petitioned the European Parliament to investigate the Government's implementation of EU employment directives designed to protect young people at work.
It has expressed concern that labour shortages during the economic boom "are being filled at the expense of young people's rights, their education prospects and their long-term futures".
The council director, Mr Peter Byrne, complained to the parliament president, Mr Jose GilRobles, that the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act was being "routinely flouted". He said a survey by the Association of Vocational and Community Colleges last September showed that more than a quarter of students frequently absent from school gave part-time working as the reason.
He said 10 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment inspectors to ensure implementation of the Act was too few for effective enforcement.
The council is on the committee set up to monitor the Act, but Mr Byrne said it had met only four times since January 1997.
A Department spokesman said yesterday a number of initiatives had been undertaken by the Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, including a "blitz" of the hotel, catering and licensing sectors.