An Examination of Canadian and European Policies

An Examination of Canadian and European Young Worker PoliciesGulaid EgehDecember xx, 2010Ontario Neurotrauma FoundationToronto, OntarioPresentation OutlineIntroduction-Ontario history of workplace health and safety-Aim of the policy studyYoung worker themes-Minimum age for employment-Minimum age for types of employment-Time limits on young workers-Worker compensation (only in Canada)ConclusionsPolicy opportunities for Ontario

2IntroductionOntario history of workplace health and safety-In the last one hundred years, Ontario haswitnessed economic shifts shaped by directions in which some industries were growing - Rise of agricultural industry- Followed by mining, manufacturing, and construction industries-Today, we are facing a different growth; that is, the service industryIt started with the rise3Introduction (contd)Health and Safety regulations have been shaping up to meet young worker safety needs-1888, the closing hours and hours of labour wereregulated for young workers (e.g., not permitted to work beyond 14 hrs/day and 74 hrs/week) -1895, minimum age in factory work for boys wasraised to 14 years, except in the canning industry -1908, minimum age for workers in retail shops wasraised from 10 to 12 years. Employment duringschool hours was also prohibited, except in specialcircumstancesThroughout the evolution of industriesOntario Shops Regulation Act (1888)Ontario Shops Regulation Act (1895)Shops Regulation Act (1908), employment during school hours prohibited, unless special permission is givenThe inception of health and safety regulations predate the year 1888, in fact it started in 1884 with the Ontario Factories Act, now called the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which introduced the legislation to inspect the safety conditions of factories

4Introduction (contd)The aim of the policy study is two-fold-To identify existing and operating young workerpolicies in Ontario-To examine Ontario young worker policies in relation to other Canadian provinces and territories and select European countries (e.g., the UK, Finland, Norway and Sweden)

The young worker policies are not consistent across Canada and therefore each province will be presented5Minimum Age for EmploymentOntario, the Maritimes, and the three territories do not have specific minimum age for employment in their occupational policiesAlberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba have set minimum age for employment as shown in their Employment Standards -Children under 12 years of age are prohibited from any type of employment -If under 12 years of age, children may work in exceptional situations with the written permission of their parents or legal guardians and the Director of Employment Standards

However, they have policies putting age restrictions to specific types of employmentEmployers need to have this written permission in their possession in case the authorities require it6Minimum Age for Employment (contd)Saskatchewan -Children under the age of 14 years are not permitted to work -The age permitted to work is either over 14 or 15 years - Effective March 31, 2010, young workers must complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course (YWRCC) -At the time of employment, employers require to see proof of age, written consent from a parent or guardian and documents supporting the YWRCCSaskatchewan has made recent changes to their minimum age of workers, children under 14 are not permitted to workThe YWRCC is the only existing program in Canada tailored for young workers7Minimum Age for Employment (contd)Quebec -Children under the age of 14 years are not permitted to work -If permitted to work, employers will require the written consent of the parent or tutorThe United Kingdom (UK) countries of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales -Children under the age of 13 years are prohibited from work -If permitted to work, employers will require permissionfrom the local authority

Minimum Age for Employment (contd)Finland -There is no age restriction for employment -There is age restrictions to specific types of employmentNorway -There is no age restriction for employment -There is age restrictions to specific types of employmentSweden -There is no age restriction for employment -There is age restrictions to specific types of employment

Minimum Age for Types of EmploymentOntario -Children under the age of 14 years may not be employed in an industrial establishment (e.g., office building, factory, arena, shop or office) -Children under the age of 15 years may not be employed in a factory -Children under the age of 16 years may not be employedin a logging operation, in or about the workplace of a construction project, at a mining plant or surface mine, and as an apprentice -Children under the age of 18 years may not be employed in underground mine or at the working face of a surface In Ontario, minor is anyone under the age of 19 years10Minimum Age for Types of Employment (contd)mine, to do work offshore on or from oil or gas rigs, to do window cleaning, to sell or serve liquor on licensed premises, and to operate a motorized vending cart used for the sale and service of liquor -Children under the age of 19 years may not be employedto undertake shaft attendant dutiesAlberta -Adolescents aged 12 to 14 years may not be employed without the written consent from the parent/guardian and the Directors approval unless the adolescent is enrolled in an off-campus education program approved under theeducation actMinimum Age for Types of Employment (contd) -Adolescents (>12 but 15 but