Companies who exploit the new minimum wage rules by taking on 16 to 18-year-olds face being exposed on a list of shame.

Keighley Trades Union Council wants to hear from youngsters aged 18 to 21 who believe they may have lost their jobs because bosses want to avoid paying the minimum £3 an hour.

Youngsters between 16 and 18 are exempt from the new rules. But 18 to 21-year-olds must be paid at least £3 an hour and people over 22 a minimum £3.60 an hour.

Steve Davison, Keighley TUC President, said: "We believe some unscrupulous employers will start to hire 16 to 18-year-olds to avoid paying the minimum wage

"Any employer we find exploiting a loophole in the law will be exposed by us and put on a list of shame.

"We are encouraging young people who feel they are exploited to contact us. Although we can't get them a minimum wage legally, we want to talk to them and encourage them to join a trades union so we can work to secure them a fair deal.''

Trade Union members will be in Keighley Market Square on Saturday giving out leaflets about the minimum wage legislation.

And they will promote a 24-hour advice helpline.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.