Kids on the Job: Who pushed lower standards?
Child advocates left out of loop as Liberals trim youth labour regulations
TheTyee.ca
[Second of two-parts]
On December 14, the B.C. government is due to finalize a law that will give this province the lowest child-labour standards in Canada. It will also effectively lower the minimum working age from 15 to 12, rewriting a rule first set in 1948. So who wanted Bill 37, and why?
Business leaders in the restaurant and retail industries which employ a lot of younger workers claim they never pushed for the specific changes. But the Liberals broad commitment to cutting every law and regulation by half, along with the "core review" that demands that staff and services be cut to save money, appears to be the main engine behind Bill 37.
Putting children in the workforce caps off changes to the Employment Standards Act that began last year, when the provincial Liberals cut overtime benefits, eliminated universal statutory holiday pay, and introduced the $6 per hour "training wage." Workers under 15 - almost certain to be entering the workforce for the first time - will mainly come under this new minimum wage, making them more appealing than adults to employers.
"Youth unemployment is already at 16 percent. It's not like businesses are clamouring for more workers," says Jim Sinclair, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour. "It's just a new source for the training wage."
In fact, there does not appear to be any business group that considers changes to child labour laws a priority. Officials with the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, Retail Council of Canada (western Canada section), and Business Council of B.C. confirmed thattheir organizations did not ask for the changes.
The B.C. Chamber of Commerce did, but president John Winter said eliminating the government-reviewed permit system for workers under 15 years of age was only one part of a broader employers' wish-list. The Chamber was consulted on the child-labour changes as early as two years ago. "I can see no downside to it," he says. "We were looking for more flexibility to the Employment Standards Act, and a lot of what we wanted has occurred. This is just one example."
'Parents won't put children at risk'
Notably, the greatest number of injuries to young workers in B.C. (which the Workers Compensation Board defines as age 15-24, as there were too few under-15s to rate previously) occur in restaurants, supermarkets and retail, in that order.
The B.C. Agriculture Council also lobbied to get rid of the permit process. "We're very supportive of the change," says Steve Thompson, executive director of the B.C. Agriculture Council in Kelowna. He says the Liberals did consult with his group before the law was introduced.
"It will make it easier for youth to enter the workforce and earn some summer money. They still will need parental approval , and parents won't put children at risk. In any case, all the workplace standards are the same as previously. The only real change is, before they needed the permit. But none of those were turned down anyway."
In fact, as reported earlier in The Tyee, approximately one in five permits were refused, and three in five altered to improve working conditions.
Of the 3,835 under-15 permits issued last year, only 30 were in agriculture. Still, the sector accounted for the largest total of Workers Compensation Board claims for injured 12- to 15-year-olds over the last five years, at $93,650. Agriculture is the third most dangerous industry in the province, after logging and mining.
Workplace oversight has also changed dramatically in the past year, as the Liberals have closed 10 of 19 employment standards offices and cut staffing by nearly one third. In the restructuring to come, a single employment standards official will be assigned to the entire agriculture sector.
'Nobody dreamed it would come up'
"When the Liberals came into office, they consulted with me in the way that they consult - they asked my opinion, I wrote them a letter stating that B.C.'s employment laws were comparable with those across Canada, and then they did what they wanted," says Mark Thompson, a professor emeritus in the UBC school of business, who was a consultant when the NDP overhauled the Employment Standards Act in 1995. "Of course, I didn't mention anything about child labour, because nobody dreamed it would come up, until this government came along."
One other group that was consulted on child labour was the nearly $1-billion-per-annum film industry - which actually opposed the changes. Producers and the powerful actors' union are lobbying to maintain the very specific rules (such as how long children of various ages can work under spotlights, minimum length and number of breaks, and chaperone requirements) they had under the previous system.
The goal: to stay in line with labour laws in California, or risk losing American production business. B.C. Labour Minister Graham Bruce has acknowledged this reality in the legislature, and said he would work to accommodate the industry. The most likely scenario appears to be regulations that will be made public when Bill 37 passes into law on December 14.
As for the many groups that specifically represent children and youth, they have been left out of the loop entirely. Most did not hear about the proposed changes until the first draft of Bill 37 hit the legislature in May. Even First Call - a coalition of 60 provincial groups including the BC Paediatric Society, BC Council for Families, Child and Youth Care Association of BC, BC Farm Women's Network, Save the Children Canada, Society for Children and Youth of BC, and the BC Teachers' Federation - was left scrambling to react to the proposed changes.
"No one here thinks Bill 37 is a good idea. It withdraws protections from years gone by," says Steve Kerstetter, First Call's communications advisor. Representatives of the Vancouver-based coalition have asked repeatedly to meet with the labour minister, but have yet to be granted a meeting. The coalition has also asked for input into the regulations that will come into force December 14, but have yet to see a draft.
"Will they be useful, or just a bunch of words on paper?" Kerstetter muses. "The basic problem is that the government doesn't seem to be listening to anyone on this issue."
Yesterday: B.C.'s child labour standards slated to be weakest in Canada
Vancouver based Alisa Smith has written for the Globe and Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen and Vancouver Sun. ![]()



45
Login or register to post comments
Melody (not verified)
8 years ago
I think it is disgusting that this government would even entertain the idea reducing the age for children in the work force. I hope with the next election people wake up and vote them out. They are putting our children at risk!!!! and I for one am angry!!!!
Susanne Shaw (not verified)
8 years ago
I don't think we can wait 2 years to get rid of these thieves. These guys (and the few token pseudowomen)need to be gone before they sell one bit more of our public property, including our land and water, and before they impoverish one more person. I am so angry at people who get so easily duped by the corporate media that they voted for this unholy coalition of Conservatives, Liberals and Alliance Parties (the CLAP). Why did people think that rich guys should rule?
anne cameron (not verified)
8 years ago
To say "parents will not put children at risk" is to deliberately ignore the number of fast food meals, the oceans of soft drinks and slurpies consumed and the lack of excersize which has led to an epidemic of grossly obese kids. To say such a thing ignores the rate of Fetal Alcohol Effect, Fetal Drug Effect and other avoidable ailments imposed on kids. To say a thing like that ignores the obvious fact that far too many parents in this province put their kids in harms' way by voting for these arstles in the last election.
carmen (not verified)
8 years ago
i am curenty debating this topic at school and its interesting to c all the points people have. U all seem to be totaly against bill 37 but like n debating i learned u cant make a judgment till u have all the facts. Melody u said its puting ur kids at risk... but realistacly is it if there handing out change to a custmer at a local Mcdonalds after school? maby children (my age) 12 - 14 want jobs for some summer money. to buy some stuff. also they arnt being put at risk in order to get the job u must have your parents signature so there for they cant get o job with out there parents knowing. but at the same time i know as a fact i wouldent want to be seeing little 12 year olds filing income tax... little children cant demand any more money then minum wage like a 15 year old can. they would be paid under minum wage ($6 b.c)for the first 600 hours of work so if a child worked 3 hours a day... he/she would be paid verry little 4 200 days! in conclusion this totaly to sided i would appreciate it if u did a little more reserch be4 making final judgments
danny (not verified)
8 years ago
the law should lower the age to get a legal job.the age is 16 so they should make it to 15.
Sam (not verified)
8 years ago
I am Carmen's debating partner and i agree with her u cant make a true, realistic, educated, judgement until u know all the facts and have been following it and paying attention to it. I agree i think that it will harm the kids. All the research i have done has led me to the conclusion that it will harm the kids because it will force them to work when they should be doing homework. You should let kids be kids sometimes they need to have fun and not be all stressed out about being on time for work, getting there, about their boss, etc etc.....If bill 37 is passed it will be a huge mistake!
jenna (not verified)
8 years ago
i think kids should be able to work when they are 13 some kids need money for good things
Anthony Turner (not verified)
8 years ago
I think that being unable to get a job under the age of 16 is stupid, whenever a kid thinks he is capible of working he or she should have all the right to do so with a parents concent. As kids age they think that they are getting a little to old to keep getting money from parents, and plus have the time they are unable to get it. So i think kids should be able to start working at the age of 12.
Alex Durham (not verified)
7 years ago
I think kids at the age of 12 should get jobs it's just plain stupit so we should viable to get jobs and get money and get rewared just lik adults we should be treated like an adult.
anon. (not verified)
7 years ago
Carmen I work at Mc Donalds. You don't just hand out change, you burn yourself with fry baskets, you burn yourself on the grill. You have to go outside in the cold in your visor and you get frost bite. When you work at Mc Donalds you have to work close shifts on school nights- that means working until anything later than 1:00 am mostly it falls to 2:00am but people have stayed until 4:30 am before. $6 and hour is also a ridiculously low wage. Everyone in a restaurant is fundamentally doing the same job, regardless of age. People should be getting paid more for doing a good job, and having worked there longer, not because they are younger.
i need a job (not verified)
7 years ago
wassup people ? kids can get good jobs making six figures a year too!
michelle (not verified)
7 years ago
kids 12 and older need to be able to get jobs because they need money for games,clothes , and other stuff maybe thats why we should gets jobs. some parents dont wont to give us the money so we should earn it areselves
Latasha (not verified)
7 years ago
I wolud like a summer job
zafer demir (not verified)
7 years ago
Hello I m zafer demir from istanbul I wnat to work in canada please help me best regards zafer demir
Matt (not verified)
7 years ago
I would like a job but can not get one because I am not yet 16 years of age.
hamza (not verified)
7 years ago
i wiil also like to get a good job like them and im of 13
Trezman F. (not verified)
7 years ago
I think kids should have jobs because as adults have an oppertunity to earn money, why can't our children. It's only fair.
Shalena J. (not verified)
7 years ago
I really think kids under 15 should have a summer job. Maybe to make a little money to spend over the summer for their needs possible. Like for school clothes, shoes, and other things like that, instead of asking their parents or guardians for money all the tme 24/7. So this is my comments. What are yours on summer jobs for teens?????????
Shalena J. (not verified)
7 years ago
I really think kids under 15 should have a summer job. Maybe to make a little money to spend over the summer for their needs possible. Like for school clothes, shoes, and other things like that, instead of asking their parents or guardians for money all the tme 24/7. So this is my comments. What are yours on summer jobs for teens?????????
Joshua (not verified)
7 years ago
i think kids at the age of twelve should be able to work at the age of twelve after school because kids want all these things like playstation2 games,cds, computer games and others and their parents wont let them have it so they need pocket money
picko (not verified)
7 years ago
let kids work at the age of 12 people!!!!!!!!!!!!!
picko (not verified)
7 years ago
these people are so dumb not letting kids work
TT (not verified)
7 years ago
I think Kids 15 and under should be able to get a job.Only if that is their choice.Maybe they need a job for something they really want, but their parents won't let them get it, besides adults are always saying "do you have a job or "you have to WORK!!! for it".
>>> Rob (not verified)
7 years ago
I need job every were is 15 or older
Qwerty Smith (not verified)
7 years ago
i am a 12 year old kid and i think that kids my age need jobs.because we all way need money, like for buy clothing that we like and also other thing.
joohn smith (not verified)
7 years ago
**** u peolpe.niga need jods these days
Luv (not verified)
7 years ago
Luv (not verified)
7 years ago
12 yo girl in need of job (not verified)
7 years ago
i think its stupid how its so hard for a kid my age to get a job around here, so becoz im a kid all u parents can listen to wat we hav to say. we need money for things these days us girl always go out with our girlfriends and go shoppin with em we need at least a bit more money coz look at me i hav no mother my father is really lookin for a job but no one is contacting him and they are al sayin that hes to old hes only 49 and i really think kids my age should be able to get a job becoz it would be so darn more helpful i wouldnt hav to ask for allowance my family is on a really tight budget my alowence went from $10 to $3.50 i really think kids 12 and over can get get jobs its way more civilized! cmon us girls need to buy new lip gloss and at least be able to afford our new dolly mags and personal stuff, hello! people who arnt offerin jobs for kids are sooooooo mean we need lippy clothesand shoes and mags and oral care stuff that we cant always ask our parents for especially if they are widowed and unempolyd!
i need a job (not verified)
7 years ago
I really want a job im 12 yrs old and i want to be able to work in the summer cuz it gets boring i want to make money im broke
i need a job (not verified)
7 years ago
I really want a job im 12 yrs old and i want to be able to work in the summer cuz it gets boring i want to make money im broke
Mary (not verified)
7 years ago
I'm 12 yrs. old and I believe that getting a job at my age would be beneficial, because I would be able to pay for essential things such as shampoo, food,clothing because my family does not earn enough money to support everyone so it would be much eaiser for alot of families if children my age could get a job and pay for the nessecities as well as some luxuries in life.
salsa (not verified)
6 years ago
i am 12 years old and i am looking for a job and my parents approve, its just that i am not in the legal age of having one! i mean we need money for very good reasons!
sulmas (not verified)
6 years ago
us gurls want money to spend for clothes and stuff! y cant we gt a job?
sulmas (not verified)
6 years ago
we need money for things these days us girl always go out with our girlfriends and go shoppin with em we need at least a bit more money. its just that i am not in the legal age of having one! i mean we need money for very good reasons! us gurls want money for clothes and shoes and lip gloss and magazines and cd's to buy! y cant we get a job? i get 30 bucks amonth but i want a little bit more 2 spend on the things i need and i mostly want! is that 2 much 2 ask 4? think about it. take a second.
taylor (not verified)
6 years ago
i want a job because my parents hate me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sara (not verified)
6 years ago
im in love myself and i think im hot but i no im not because everyone tells me that i am really ugly and i believe them too. could u take me home with u? i am homeless.
sara again (not verified)
6 years ago
tara (not verified)
6 years ago
tara (not verified)
6 years ago
i fell good today how bout u?
do u feel humpy because i do. just 2 tell u, i am horney
criptinight (not verified)
6 years ago
I am 14 and my mom always says that If I want somthing, I must pay for it with my own money. But so far I am only getting paid twice a year- my birthday, and christmas. And for the rest of the year I'm broke, and living off of my mother. Give parents and kids a break and let kids work. But if they are slacking, fire them-simple as that.
nae (not verified)
6 years ago
I say if you are a 12 year old or 14 year old you should be able to get a job. It are some circumstances other than buying clothes.These people should think about the mother struggling with 6 kids and has 2 jobs mind you she is a single mom and has a fourteen year old.That 14 year old can help support her family. If the kid is not responsible enough you can always fire them. How many families must end up on the street and in the system before they let us work?Not all kids are ignorant.
Salem (not verified)
6 years ago
not all kids are ignorant like Tara please let us get jobs
neinei (not verified)
6 years ago
butt holes that don't hire us 14 year olds are crazy. we can work just as hard as a 16 year old, & some harder. If some kid was ignorant that doesn't mean we are all ignorant. some of Us accualy have sence. &for the ones that don't, give them the hard boot, kick them to the curd, broom them! and make room for the rest of us soon to be working students!
parent (not verified)
6 years ago
i am a parent and i need help from my child thank you nae you have expressed what my child feels. i am struggling so please lower the age before millions of us parents get put on the street.