Why Child Labour Laws Are Important

Jan 4, 2012
Jesse Cullen

Safety first - Workers United Union

Canada is one of only 27 countries not to have ratified the ILO C138 which says children should be at least 15 years old to work.

According to the Canadian Labour Congress, over 1000 Canadian workers are killed on the job every year and 42 young workers, aged 14-24, are injured, made ill, or killed on the job in Ontario every day. To reduce the risk of exploitation, injury, or even death, child labour is prohibited in Canada with restrictions varying from province to province.

The 1870s and the 1890s saw the first laws passed prohibiting child labour in factories and mines. In 1891, the Ontario legislature introduced compulsory schooling for children aged 8-14 and as the number of children in school increased, the number of children working decreased. Furthermore, the number of Canadians living in rural areas was also decreasing which resulted in less and less children working on family farms. With rapid urbanization and industrialization, many children were working in dangerous conditions which only intensified efforts of middle-class social reformers who worked to improve living and working conditions in Canada.

Fighting for Safe and Fair Workplaces

Over the years, working men and women have fought for and won other reforms such as Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. This act gave workers the right to know, the right to participate, and the right to refuse unsafe work. These are rights all workers should understand in order to help them stay safe at work. A child under the age of 14 cannot be expected to exercise these rights and putting a child in a potentially dangerous situation not only puts their safety at risk but the safety of their co-workers as well.

Child labour laws are important and a hallmark of an open and free society. These laws protect children from exploitation and help keep the workplace safe for all workers. However, these laws are only effective in achieving these outcomes when infractions are reported and people speak up. Strong child labour laws reflect progress, and the fight to protect our children and promote workplace health and safety is an ongoing battle.

Since my partner works as a server, we are especially aware of the risks associated with working in a restaurant. In fact, only a few months ago she was injured at work when a piece of cooking equipment, which is used to divide pasta in a large pot, fell on her face leaving a deep cut on her nose. The pasta divider was inappropriately placed on a shelf on top of boxes of garbage bags, too high for her to see (she’s 5 ft 4 in tall). When she grabbed a box, the metal pasta divider fell and one of the sharp edges hit her in the face. She immediately went to the emergency room and stitches were recommended by the nursing staff.

The Workplace is Not a Place for Children

Of course, there are always going to be those who believe having a child work in a family business, such as a restaurant, can have positive outcomes for the child. Life experience, work ethic, and a sense of responsibility are invaluable life lessons many feel a child can acquire while working under the legal age of 14. Plus, what’s the harm in a kid wanting to help out?

I wouldn’t suggest that there are no tangible benefits to a child helping their parents in their small business on a day off from school. However, there are many ways a parent can instil a work ethic without putting their child and co-workers in potentially dangerous situations. A child can be brought in after work hours for a tour of the establishment when they are under appropriate supervision, they can learn important financial management skills while a parent does the books or files taxes, and they can even visit the establishment provided they are being supervised by an individual who is 18 years or older and not performing any tasks that an employee would be expected to carry out. Furthermore, I think most people can agree that instilling a work ethic or allowing a child to help out to gain life experience is secondary to keeping a child and other workers safe.

More Work to Do

After all, don’t child labour laws keep our children safe and free from exploitation? In the year 2012, we should be building upon existing child labour and occupational health and safety laws to make our workplaces fairer and safer for all workers. And there is still work to be done. Currently, Canada is one of only 27 countries not to have ratified the ILO Convention 138 which contends the age of employment “shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years.” We are keeping company with countries like Iran who have also failed to ratify this Convention. This should sound like nails on a chalk board to every Canadian who believes we should be promoting fair labour practice at home and abroad.

So, if you suspect a child is working under age, be proactive and report it to the Ministry of Labour. Also, let your friends know what kind of labour practices the establishment in question is employing and vote with your wallet. Support businesses that respect labour laws so you do your part to ensure workers, young and old, come home from work safe every day. Turning a blind eye, or being intimidated by those who wish to deter you, can result in serious injury or death and the statistics are there to prove it.