- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 60
12-year-olds join Alberta labour force
KATHERINE HARDING
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Printer Friendly version
EDMONTON -- Bridgette Tsang still doesn't know what she wants to do
when she grows up, but the 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil is already a
poster child for a controversial labour change in Alberta.
"It's great and you get lots of money," she said about her weekend job bussing tables at a Humpty's restaurant in Edmonton.
Until earlier this month, the job would have required a special
government permit.
Provincial officials, however, have quietly thrown out the requirement that young people between the ages of 12 and 14 must have government approval to work in the food and restaurant industry.
Labour regulations vary from province to province, but jurisdictions
such as Ontario don't even grant special permission for people under
the minimum working age, which varies between 14 and 18 depending on
the industry.
The change in Alberta, which took effect June 3, has angered labour
groups, which say it is a dangerous way to appease employers and ease the province's chronic labour shortage.
The Alberta Federation of Labour has complained that children should be playing, not working, and are most vulnerable to exploitation by
employers because they don't fully understand their rights or the
safety risks involved.
"There is plenty of time in life for working. Why are we in such a rush to push children into the work force?" association president Gil McGowan asked.
He is upset that Premier Ralph Klein's Progressive Conservative
government did not hold public discussions about the change or even
warn that it was coming.
"With one stroke of a pen, the government has created a new type of
child labour in this province," Mr. McGowan said. "What's next? Letting 10-year-olds work on construction sites?"
Sarah Doyle, spokeswoman for Alberta Human Resources and Employment,
said the decision to get rid of special permits had nothing to do with the labour shortage caused by the province's red-hot economy.
"Underaged minors are not part of the solution to resolving that labour shortage. It's a far broader issue," she said. "Kids are supposed to be in school."
The decision to scrap special permits is simply about eliminating red tape, she added.
Last year, the province received about 500 requests for special
permits; 80 per cent were for "low-risk" jobs in the food and
restaurant industry. That was a significant jump from 2003, when there were only 340 applications for permits.
Ms. Doyle added that people between the ages of 12 to 14 still need
written parental consent to work, and a safety checklist must be
completed.
Children are also not allowed to use deep fryers, slicers, large knives or grills, and must be supervised by adults at all times. Young people cannot work more than two hours on a school day or between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., she added.
For many employers, the new rule is welcome, although many contacted by The Globe and Mail had no idea it existed.
"It's the best news I've heard in a long time," said Ahmed Saeed, who manages an A&W fast-food restaurant in Fort McMurray. The competition for fast-food restaurant staff in the bustling northern Alberta city is so fierce that most have to offer dental and medical benefits.
The starting wage at Mr. Saeed's restaurant is $8.50 an hour. That is higher than the province's minimum wage, which is to move to $7 an hour in September.
Mr. Saeed said he employs a handful of people under the 15, and will
probably hire more now that permits are no longer needed.
"We are busy, busy. I can't find people fast enough and most don't stay around that long. I'm always training."
However, not all employers in the industry believe that hiring workers between 12 and 14 is the right way to battle the labour shortage.
"I'm always looking for people, but I think that's getting kind of
young," said Ron Tatarniuk, manager of a Dairy Queen in Edmonton.
"I'm not sure they are ready to work at that age in this type of
industry. Dealing with the public isn't easy."
Bridgette, who lists reading science fiction and listening to hip-hop as her hobbies, said working with the public is one of her favourite things about being employed. Her mother, Nancy, owns the restaurant where she works.
"It's fun to meet new people," the youngster said. She is saving her
paycheques and tips to buy a laptop computer.
"I probably won't do this when I get older, but I like doing it right now."
KATHERINE HARDING
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Printer Friendly version
EDMONTON -- Bridgette Tsang still doesn't know what she wants to do
when she grows up, but the 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil is already a
poster child for a controversial labour change in Alberta.
"It's great and you get lots of money," she said about her weekend job bussing tables at a Humpty's restaurant in Edmonton.
Until earlier this month, the job would have required a special
government permit.
Provincial officials, however, have quietly thrown out the requirement that young people between the ages of 12 and 14 must have government approval to work in the food and restaurant industry.
Labour regulations vary from province to province, but jurisdictions
such as Ontario don't even grant special permission for people under
the minimum working age, which varies between 14 and 18 depending on
the industry.
The change in Alberta, which took effect June 3, has angered labour
groups, which say it is a dangerous way to appease employers and ease the province's chronic labour shortage.
The Alberta Federation of Labour has complained that children should be playing, not working, and are most vulnerable to exploitation by
employers because they don't fully understand their rights or the
safety risks involved.
"There is plenty of time in life for working. Why are we in such a rush to push children into the work force?" association president Gil McGowan asked.
He is upset that Premier Ralph Klein's Progressive Conservative
government did not hold public discussions about the change or even
warn that it was coming.
"With one stroke of a pen, the government has created a new type of
child labour in this province," Mr. McGowan said. "What's next? Letting 10-year-olds work on construction sites?"
Sarah Doyle, spokeswoman for Alberta Human Resources and Employment,
said the decision to get rid of special permits had nothing to do with the labour shortage caused by the province's red-hot economy.
"Underaged minors are not part of the solution to resolving that labour shortage. It's a far broader issue," she said. "Kids are supposed to be in school."
The decision to scrap special permits is simply about eliminating red tape, she added.
Last year, the province received about 500 requests for special
permits; 80 per cent were for "low-risk" jobs in the food and
restaurant industry. That was a significant jump from 2003, when there were only 340 applications for permits.
Ms. Doyle added that people between the ages of 12 to 14 still need
written parental consent to work, and a safety checklist must be
completed.
Children are also not allowed to use deep fryers, slicers, large knives or grills, and must be supervised by adults at all times. Young people cannot work more than two hours on a school day or between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., she added.
For many employers, the new rule is welcome, although many contacted by The Globe and Mail had no idea it existed.
"It's the best news I've heard in a long time," said Ahmed Saeed, who manages an A&W fast-food restaurant in Fort McMurray. The competition for fast-food restaurant staff in the bustling northern Alberta city is so fierce that most have to offer dental and medical benefits.
The starting wage at Mr. Saeed's restaurant is $8.50 an hour. That is higher than the province's minimum wage, which is to move to $7 an hour in September.
Mr. Saeed said he employs a handful of people under the 15, and will
probably hire more now that permits are no longer needed.
"We are busy, busy. I can't find people fast enough and most don't stay around that long. I'm always training."
However, not all employers in the industry believe that hiring workers between 12 and 14 is the right way to battle the labour shortage.
"I'm always looking for people, but I think that's getting kind of
young," said Ron Tatarniuk, manager of a Dairy Queen in Edmonton.
"I'm not sure they are ready to work at that age in this type of
industry. Dealing with the public isn't easy."
Bridgette, who lists reading science fiction and listening to hip-hop as her hobbies, said working with the public is one of her favourite things about being employed. Her mother, Nancy, owns the restaurant where she works.
"It's fun to meet new people," the youngster said. She is saving her
paycheques and tips to buy a laptop computer.
"I probably won't do this when I get older, but I like doing it right now."
