Background
Seven years ago, the BC government lowered the work-start age (that’s the age you can work without government permission) to 12-years. Since 2003, children aged 12 and up can work at virtually any worksite, at any time of day and at any task with the permission of one parent or guardian. At the same time government eliminated the requirement for employers to obtain a permit to employ children between the ages of 12 and 14. A permit is still required to employ a child under the age of 12.
To be clear, by child labour, we’re not talking about safe, age appropriate work experiences (like babysitting or raking leaves). Child labour is the employment of children at inappropriate jobs or work sites. Internationally, ‘child labour’ usually means economic and physical exploitation.
In 2003, these changes positioned BC as the jurisdiction with the youngest work start age in North America. In addition, by requiring only a parent’s permission, parents were effectively placed in charge of assessing work-site safety. Under the previous permit system, Employment Standards Officers had the lead role in determining the suitability of a work-site and the ability to impose conditions on employment. The permit system itself protected children as many employers simply did not attempt to hire children and submit their workplaces to special conditions. Educators also played a role in deciding if a work commitment would have a negative effect on a child’s education.
Interestingly, government made one exception. After hearing that California-based lobby groups would use this change to keep film productions on the US side of the border (lower child labour standards would give BC productions an unfair advantage and put us off-side the spirit of NAFTA!), the permit system was continued for children in the film industry.
Child and youth advocates as well as teachers warned that lowering employment standards would put children at risk of injury and exploitation. New research shows that indeed more children are working and getting hurt in the workplace.
January 2010
In December 2009, BC’s Minister of Labour, Murray Coell, met with First Call’s Provincial Co-ordinator, Adrienne Montani, the report’s author, Helesia Luke and a representative from the BC Society for Public Education, Catherine Evans.
In January 2010 the Minister of Labour, Murray Coell, responded to First Call’s report documenting the increase in child work-related injury claims between 2004 – 2008 in this letter. The letter from the Minister clearly indicates no change in the government’s current position on child labour – one that is clearly not protecting children from injury.
