Generally, a rough distinction can be made between “(technical) labour protection” and “protection with regard to specific groups of persons”. Technical labour protection, which is primarily afforded under the Labour Protection Act (ArbeitnehmerInnenschutzgesetz, ASchG) and its regulations, aims at protecting workers and employees in the performance of their work. The statutory structure is topic-based (substances, work Equipment, workplaces, noise, ergonomics). The legal provisions governing the protection of persons with regard to their assignments are person-related and aim at the protection of certain groups of workers. Examples of this type of protection are the Law on Working Time (Arbeitszeitgesetz, AZG), the Law on Rest Periods (Arbeitsruhegesetz, ARG), the Maternity Protection Act (Mutterschutzgesetz, MSchG), or the Federal Act governing the Employment of Children and Adolescents (Bundesgesetz über die Beschäftigung von Kindern und Jugendlichen, KJBG) and its relevant regulations, see also Apprentices.
