Should all Countries have the Same Child Labor Laws?

By Amanda

International Labor Organization

• As a general rule, most countries consider a “child” to be anyone under the age of 18. In most cases, someone between the age of 15 and 18 can engage in “non-hazardous” labor, and some countries have restrictions on the number of hours that these laborers work, to ensure that their work does not interfere with their education. Some countries also have an additional category, between 13 and 15, for “light labor.” These ages are in line with an international standard promoted by the International Labor Organization, and no countries are entirely without child labor laws.

http://www.wisegeek.com/do-most-countries-in-the-world-have-child-labor-laws.htm

Thesis

• Labor laws for minors should suite the country, but there should be a minimum

age that you can’t have kids work under.

The U.S.A

• In the US there are many programs for child labor. The government has it’s

own set of rules and laws. Each state has a differential of the laws that apply

to them.

What are the exact laws?

• The Government only covers 14 and 15 year olds, they state a child may only work 18 hours in a school week.

•Under 16 you need a NH Youth Employment certificate. •16 & 17 year olds need a note signed by their parents on file where they’re employed.

In NH each violation you could be charged up to 10,00,

Students Responsibilitiesin New Hampshire

• See principal or superintendent to get ERCL for (Employers request for child Labor)

• Take form to employer to fill out• Take form back to principal filled out with

proof of age (usually two forms of ID required.)

Forms of ID that are accepted are license, social security card, passports, school id card

Principal chooses to approve or deny• Card is given out; needs parental signature,

given to employer.

Age Requirements

• Minors are not allowed to perform any jobs declared hazardous.

• Such as driving, operating equipment, and excavating.

• Since the government and states have laws if they overlap the more protective law comes into play.

Agriculture Employment

• Parents that own a farm may have their kids work at any age, for any hours.

Employment by Parents

• Rules do not apply if you work for your parents, you can be employed at any age. Relatives don’t have to pay you minimum wage. You cannot employ a

minor if the job involves mining, manufacturing, or the job requires a

minimum age of 18.

Enforcement

• There are investigators employed by the department of labor stationed all over the US.

• They investigate your business to see if any laws are being broken. Laws that are broken, they should help you fix them. If an employee complains it is illegal to fire or reprimand them.

Jobs for any age

• Your parents can give you permission tobe on TV

ordeliver newspapers

at any age

Forms• In many states under 18 you need to fill

out forms with your parents before you can start jobs. This is called a work

permit. Work permits can be easy or hard to get. In order to get a work

permit you must fill out a section, the potential employer, one of your parents,

and your school. After everyone has finished and approved you then can

start work.

•

Posting Requirements

• The FDA has specific rules telling employers were they need to post signs.

• For example the minimum wage poster has specific guidelines on what will happen if you break the child labor laws.

Dangers in Jobs• Besides overworking yourself and trying

to do school there are many other dangers in the work place.

• In stores many teens are killed by homicide, box crushers, and heavy lifting.

• Make sure you follow directions and are safe.

Other Job Dangers

• Construction- Teens die or get injured by falls, electricity, tools, and confined spaces. It is illegal to work on a construction site before the age of 16.

• Fast food- violent crimes, hot equipment, sharp objects/cuts, slippery floors. There isn’t a minimum age set by the government for working in a restaurant.

VT Restrictions• Under 16 - no more the eight hours a day• Only six days a week• Not before or after 7 o clock

• Not more than eighteen hours in a school week.

• The only job that these rules don’t apply to is a paper carrier.

• Actors/actresses may only be employed until midnight. Baseball bat boys/ girls will get special privileges and lenience's.

UNICEF

• UNICEF defined child labor for all ages

• 5-11 years one hour of economic work or 28 hours of household work a week.

• 12-14 years fourteen hours of economic work or 28 hours of household work.

• 15-17 years forty-three hours of economic or household work per week.

http://www.child info.org/labour.html

Reasons for Child Labor

• Poverty• Family expectations and traditions• Abuse of the child• Lack of good schools and daycare• Lack of services such as health care• Public opinion• Uncaring attitudes of employers• Limited choices for women

China

• China has estimated that out of 10 million kids not in school 5 million of

them are working in factories. http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01908/1024/chinarussia.htm

• Many kids work part time jobs to have money for spending on themselves.

Asia

• Over 62% of the worlds child labor is found here.

Russia

• Russia is stricter than the US.• No child under the age of 16 may be

employed. • No one under 18 can work a job that

requires nights or overtime.• Under certain conditions a child can get

parents permission and work at age 14.

Africa

• Africa does not have laws against child labor.

• Because of their poverty level many children are sent out young.

Australia• Persons under the age 18 are

considered children.• Children may give consent for medical

procedures from the age 14 to 16 depending on were they live.

• 10 & under aren’t able to be charged with a criminal offense.

• Child must be educated between the ages of 5 to 17.

http://www.loc.gov/law/help/child-rights/australia.php

Conclusion

• Almost every country has child labor laws but the ones with the most poverty are the ones that have the most child labor. If we could help with poverty then it would cut back child labor.

Canada

• Canada allows children under 16 to have school abscences for work experience.

• 12-14 are allowed to work 2 hours after school or 8 hours on non school days.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/lp/spila/clli/eslc/minage(e).pdf

Child Labor Awareness

QuickTimeª and ampeg4 decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

ReferencesChild Info, and UNICEF. "Statistics by area." Child Info. 16 Dec. 2008. Unicef. 16 Dec. 2008 < http://www.childinfo.org/>. Child Labor Coalition. "Child Labor in the US." Child Labor. Child LAbor Coalition. 24 Nov. 2008 < http://www.stopchildlabor.org/USchildlabor/ fact1 .htm>. "child labour." UNICEF. UNICEF. 9 Dec. 2008 <h ttp://www.unicef.org/protection/ index_childlabour.html> . Expert Law, Aaron Larson, and Law Offices of Aaron Larson. "ChildLabor Law." Child Labor. Aug. 2003. Expert Law. 16 Dec. 2008 < http://www.expertlaw.com/library/employment/child_labor.html>. History Place, and Lewis W. Hine. "Child Labor." The History Place. 22 Dec. 2008 < http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/>. OSHA. "Safety and health Topis: Teen Workers." OSHA. 23 June 2008. DOL. 25 Nov. 2008 < http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ teenworkers/index.html> . Think Quest, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and Marian Herman. "Child Labor: Home." Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Ed. Alan, et al. 2003. Think Quest. 16 Dec. 2008 < http://library.thinkquest.org/ 03oct/01908/1024/bibliography.htm>. US Department of Labor. "DOL Youth and Labor." US Department of Labor. 24 Nov. 2008. DOL. 24 Nov. 2008 <h ttp://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/>. "Vermont Statutes Online." legistation for state of VT. 6 Apr. 2006. 8 Dec. 2008 < http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/ fullsection.cfm?Title=21&Chapter=005&Section=00434> . Youth Rules, and DOL. "Youth Rules." YouthRules! Department of Labor. 26 Nov. 2008 < http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/index.htm>.

References 2

S.E. Smith, and Wise Geek. "Do most countries have child labor laws." Wise Geek. 2009. 13 Jan. 2009 <http://www.wisegeek.com/do-most-countries-in-the-world-have-child-labor-laws.htm>. "Canada Child Labor." Labour Law Analysis. 15 Oct. 2006. Labuor Program. 13 Jan. 2009 <http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/lp/spila/clli/eslc/minage(e).pdf>.