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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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VICTORIA – Young workers, many starting their first jobs, will be protected under new employment standards rules, Skills Development and Labour Minister Graham Bruce announced today.
The new regulation, which comes into effect on Dec. 14, makes employers responsible for ensuring employees who are 12, 13 or 14 years old don’t work during school hours. The student may work up to four hours on a school day and up to 20 hours a week when school is in session. If school is not in session, the maximum work time is seven hours a day and 35 hours in a week. In special circumstances the director of employment standards may authorize a longer workday. Employees under 15 must also be under the direct, immediate supervision of an adult in the workplace at all times.
“These rules mirror the conditions that used to be found in child employment permits issued by the Employment Standards Branch,” Bruce said. “Those permits were almost always approved, but sometimes delays in processing around 300 applications each year could mean a young person missed a job opportunity.
“With almost 160,000 12, 13 and 14 year olds in B.C., we know there are far more than 300 youngsters working than have been issued permits, and we want to make sure they’re well protected. We are changing the rules to better focus on protecting these young employees by returning responsibility for deciding whether a youngster goes to work to that person’s parents.” Employers must have permission in writing for the young person to work and are subject to penalties of $500, $2,500 or $10,000 for not following these rules,” said Bruce.
Employers will continue to need a permit from the director of employment standards to hire anyone less than 12 years of age.
Specific rules have been developed for children working in the film and television industry. These rules set out how long a child can work in a day or week and ensure children’s incomes are protected. The standards were developed following discussion with U.S. and Canadian film producers, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, educators and the Union of B.C. Performers.
“We are taking action to effectively protect the interests of young people who are employed,” Bruce said. “Employers who choose not to follow these standards will face mandatory penalties. We will act, and act quickly, to address any problems with these standards.”
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