Nearly 90,000 young workers under the age of 14 could desert supermarket aisles, farms or even restaurant dining rooms in the middle of summer if the bill regulating child labor is adopted as is. .
This is at least the figure that emerged during the consultations and public hearings on Bill 19 aimed at regulating child labor that are being held in Quebec for the next three days. To avoid “shattering 90,000 dreams”, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) wants the government to allow young people who already have a job to obtain an exemption. Its vice-president, François Vincent, made this request on Tuesday during his appearance before the Committee on the Economy and Labor.
In its current form, the bill presented by the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet prohibits an employer from hiring a child under the age of 14 (except for tasks such as babysitting, monitor in a summer camp or employee of the family business) and limits the number of hours a young person works to 17 hours per week during the school year. Once sanctioned, companies will have 30 days to send in their termination, which could affect the summer season.
“They are already employed. They already have their routine. A young person whose birthday (14 years old) is in September will be caught playing Nintendo in the basement, ”illustrated Mr. Vincent.
Also present, the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ) asked the government to wait until September to make the age limit mandatory in order to “get through the summer period”.
For his part, the Minister of Labor did not seem willing to grant a delay. “From the moment you prohibit (young people from working) under the age of 14, it still has to come into force at some point. »
Hearings will continue until Thursday.