Older people may complain about facing discrimination on the jobs market, but a toy shop in Maassluis has refused to accept applications from anyone older than 17, according to a report in the Volkskrant.

The branch of the Intertoys high street store advertised on its Facebook page for a 15/16-year-old to join the staff. When asked, online, if 18 would also be acceptable, the company said no. The Facebook advert has since been taken down.

The minimum wage for someone who is 15 is €2.74 a hour. An 18-year-old earns €4.15.

A spokesman for Blokker Holding, which owns the Intertoys group, said the advert was not a ‘fair representation of our employment policy’ and that the job was also open to 18 and 19-year-olds.

The job in question involved stacking shelves, something which is traditionally done by school children, the company pointed out.

Trade union group FNV said the job advert was another indication of the ‘race to the bottom’. ‘What does it mean for 18-year-olds who have a vocational college diploma in retail and shops like Intertoys prefer 15-year-olds?’ a spokesman told the Volkskrant.