Several tens of thousands of young workers under the age of 14 could desert the aisles of supermarkets, farms or even the dining rooms of restaurants in the middle of summer if the bill regulating child labor is adopted as it is. what.
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 the consultations and public hearings on Bill 19 aimed at regulating child labor which are being held in Quebec for the next three days.
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.
According to figures from the Ministry of Labour, nearly 90,000 young people under the age of 14 are employed. Of this number, it is impossible to know what proportion works for a family business with fewer than 10 employees. Certainly, CFIB believes that those who have a livelihood can keep it. “They are already employed. They already have their routine. A youth whose party [de 14 ans] 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 forbid [aux jeunes de travailler] under 14, it still has to come into force at some point. »
Hearings will continue until Thursday.