By Sarah Toyne BBC News Online consumer affairs reporter

The TUC wants more protection for teenagers

Young people will be prevented from working excessive hours, under new European laws being introduced on 6 April.

The Young Workers' Directive means most workers aged 16 and 17 will not be allowed to work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.

The new rules also prevent some young people from working at night.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) welcomed the changes, but said it had concerns about a number of exclusions, which would effectively exclude one quarter of young people from the ban on night work.

Night working

The night time rules will not apply to young workers in hospital, care homes, or cultural, artistic and sports activities.

There is a whole range of physical and mental ailments that are associated with night work, and young people are particularly susceptible. Paul Sellers, TUC policy officer

Those working in these sectors can work all through the night, providing certain conditions are met.

Young workers who are employed in sectors such as retailing, catering and hotels will not be allowed to work between midnight and 4am, but can work part of the night.

Paul Sellers, policy officer at the TUC, told BBC News Online he believed the exemptions were unjustified.

"The purpose of directive is to protect the health and safety of young workers," he said.

"There is a greater chance of having an accident when you work long hours.

"There is also a whole range of physical and mental ailments that are associated with night work, and young people are particularly susceptible.

"The TUC doesn't think the exemptions are justified. They are totally there for business reasons - and take out about a quarter of young people from being fully protected."