With 200,000 students expected to take summer jobs this year, there is a danger many will decide not to return to school, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has warned.
The group has decided to circulate leaflets to young people throughout the State urging them to go back to school in September. The council says research has shown that people who stay in school longer earn higher salaries in the long term.
Because of the buoyancy in the economy, the numbers taking summer jobs this year is understood to be one of the largest recorded, said the NYCI.
The Department of Education has already expressed concern at the "poaching" of students by employers, and the stagnation in the numbers doing the Leaving Certificate is understood to be connected to the numbers of students leaving school early.
"If you are thinking of packing in school and staying on at your summer job, think twice," says the leaflet from the NYCI. But the organisation accepts that summer employment can provide useful money and experience.
The leaflet campaign is also concentrating on making young people aware of their employment rights when doing a summer job. These relate to the number of hours that can be worked in a week, rest breaks, work finishing times and the minimum wage.
"Although summer jobs can be a positive experience, some employers do take advantage of young people and exploit them," said the NYCI president, Mr James Doorley. "This summer is the first since the introduction of a national minimum wage. People under 18 are entitled to a minimum wage rate of £3.08."