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Provincial labour federation expresses concern the changes put students at risk.
Regina (28 July 2009) - The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) has serious concerns with new minimum age regulations approved by the province's pro-business Saskatchewan Party government this week.
The changes, announced last week, lower the allowable working age to 15 from 16 in five key sectors - hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, hospitals and nursing homes.
The government is attempting to portray the announcement as a positive reform by also establishing a minimum working age of 14 years for all sectors, something which had not been specifically legislated previously.
Yet the dangers are obvious and the situation will have to be closely monitored, says SFL president Larry Hubich.
"Our current laws are often disregarded by employers, causing injury or death or lost wages. Young workers are more vulnerable about their rights and must be protected," he says.
"The fact that 14- and 15-year-old students will be limited to working 16 hours a week is an improvement over early musings about a 30 hour limit and while we endorse (employers) having to have an Occupational Health and Safety certificate we have to wait to see what that training involves."
Violating ILO standards
The SFL says the move to lower the minimum working age runs counter to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) guidelines of a minimum of 16 years of age in developed countries, and thus ignores the standards of this United Nations agency which are supposed to be respected by business, government and labour in Canada.
Hubich said he is “concerned that young people not be exploited or injured and that they have an opportunity to enjoy extra curricular activities as they progress through school. School work suffers if young people are overly tired in class or if they are forced to rush assignments and don’t have adequate study time,” he adds.
He noted that a recent study, commissioned by the Manitoba education department, indicated that some students “are working to support their family – something that can lead to them dropping out of school entirely."
"Although students may work outside of school hours, they are often more tired and likely to ‘need a break’ from classes if they are holding down a job," Hubich says.
"The education and safety of our young must be our first priority."
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