Labour minister says it's not 'normal' for 11-year-olds to work as Quebec looks at legal revamp

Quebec, which has no minimal working age, is contemplating laws to higher regulate youngster labour as authorities say they're troubled by what number of preteens are within the job market.

On Tuesday, Minister of Labour and Employment Jean Boulet was requested to touch upon the truth that an increasing number of children between the ages of 11 and 14 are getting jobs.

He stated, in response to Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy, that the state of affairs was not "regular" and that he had sought recommendation from teams corresponding to labour and enterprise associations.

The Advisory Committee on Labour and the Workforce can be anticipated to provide him its suggestions, he stated.

"If there's a want for legislative intervention, it is going to be accomplished on the applicable time," stated Boulet.

He requested Tuesday for a time of "reflection" on this "extraordinarily vital" concern that he stated "worries him enormously" within the context of the present labour scarcity.

Whereas the province has no minimal working age, below the Labour Requirements Act, an individual below the age of 14 should have parental consent to work.

"Do you assume it is regular to learn that 11-year-old Amanda is working between 12 and 18 hours every week?" requested Rizqy, who stated she's involved in regards to the danger of youngsters dropping out of college.

"In the intervening time, it has virtually doubled in all areas, the dropout price," she stated.

Rizqy, the MNA for Saint-Laurent, famous that different provinces have introduced in laws, together with British Columbia, which has raised the minimal age for employment from 12 to 16, with some exceptions.

Quebec nonetheless imposes "vital" obligations for employers to make sure the well being and security of younger folks, Boulet stated. Folks using youth are topic to "elevated monitoring."

"It's clearly supposed that an employer not exceed the capabilities of the kid, and never affect on his or her social or ethical improvement," he stated.

Beneath the Training Act, an individual 16 or youthful who has not graduated can't work throughout college hours.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed in French on Might 31, 2022.