[eugene]

<strong>Written By:</strong> eugene
<strong>Date:</strong> 2005-06-27 12:23:00
<a href="/article/172335334-child-labour-returns-to-alberta">Article Link</a>

Sneaky Tories snuck this under the radar, and suddenly as of the beginning of June it was ok for twelve-year-olds to go to work. To work in an industry like fast food where the health and safety laws are lax and the enforcement nil.

Learning a lesson from B.C., which re-introduced Child Labour several years ago with much public fanfare and creating a labour union backlash and firestorm, our clever Tories passed this law in cabinet, in camera, with no notice; and it's a done deal.

<a href="http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/soundoff/story.html?id=330f1e9a-f684-4cf8-af64-9bd3f57a9b7c">http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/soundoff/story.html?id=330f1e9a-f684-4cf8-af64-9bd3f57a9b7c</a>

<a href="http://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2005/06/child-labour-returns-to-alberta.html">http://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2005/06/child-labour-returns-to-alberta.html</a>




[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on June 28, 2005]

[Jesse]

I would argue that 12 year olds are old enough to work; 'child labour' in the normal usage refers to people under 10. You know, like Tiny Tim (we're all referring to fictional stories as if they were good sources, apparently). I know that I was capable of rational thought when I was 12; so long as no one is forcing children to work, I don't really see how this will change much. Of course, I would like to see an equal increase in the other rights and responsibilities help by teenagers to go along with this.

They would have had a much easier time if they had just set it at 13, then we would only be talking about those no-good teenagers.

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Every time you complain about the moderators, god kills a kitten.

[Guest]

I agree, but I also have to disagree. I, for one, also had rational and real life thoughts when I was 12, however, after living with my girlfriend and her daughter (who is now 15)and seeing her daughters friends/school mates, etc and their attitudes towards life....I don't think "kids" of today have a grasp on reality!!! They sit in front of the computer, video games and TV for hours on end...and I really don't think they know what "real life" is. They seem to think that everyone is going to cater to them. So, how are they going to cater to the customer/client??? But "the government" says it's OK - so I guess it's OK..... but it's you and me that have to deal with this. Am I the only one thinking/seeing this????

[Dave Ruston]

I`m not sure what to think of this just yet. One concern is, how low in age will employers eventually go, or is 12 the limit? Will they get the same minimum wage as the older teens? I also believe that kids should be kids, yet perhaps this just may teach them some responsibility. I pumped gas at my grandfather`s gas station when I was 7. (looking back, I was also exploited by him.) But it did teach me about responsibility, people, and the value of money- not that I`m a fiscal fanatic today! I don`t think 12 is too young, as long as they`re treated fairly, and not made to work too much, because you gotta have a childhood too.

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Dave Ruston

[Guest]

In BC they can work in ANY industry. With so many already young people being killed and forever maimed on the job, lowering the working age for dangerous jobs is just stupid. young kids have no fear, and some jobs you need some fear to keep from getting killed or injured.

In the end, such moves are cheap labour conservatives wet dreams come true. Cheap labour by those unable to fend for themselves. Welcome to the NWO.

[sthompson]

I thought child labour referred to any work done by kids under 14, not 10. Where are you getting that number?

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Now call it extreme if you like, but I propose we hit it hard, and we hit it fast, with a major, and I mean major...leaflet campaign.--Rimmer, Red Dwarf

[sthompson]

It doesn't matter if the kids are capable of serving people properly or not. This is food industry. Speaking as someone who has worked in the food industry from age 16 until about age 20, the conditions are terrible, the wages are crap and you DO get exploited easily. I knew one person who worked at Dairy Queen for a couple of years only to get a 5 cent an hour raise. As a result the turnover is high but the employers actually like it that way because it keeps wages low.

There may be regulations to protect the kids but in Alberta we have poor labour laws and it's rare to see them enforced. It's just too likely that employers will bend and break the rules and the kids won't know any better, or won't be willing/able to speak up if they see an abuse due to fear of getting fired and losing that all-important reference (I've seen this happen to full-grown adults, let alone a 12-year-old).

And the way this was passed was also pretty devious. I'm sure our 4 NDP MPs and prob a few Libs would have opposed.

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Now call it extreme if you like, but I propose we hit it hard, and we hit it fast, with a major, and I mean major...leaflet campaign.--Rimmer, Red Dwarf

[Brother Jonathan]

<p>According to the <tt>canada.com</tt> link above, the young labourer will require signed parental/guardian consent, must work in the constant presence of an adult, and will have the same minimum wage as adult workers. A willing and able youngster shouldn’t be subject to unreasonable safety risks while functioning as host, cashier, dishwasher, busser, or waiter. If you owned a diner, would you hire a tween to be your weekend short-order cook?</p> <p>I’d guess that most of us were capable of rational thought at that age, and in my case I decided that I preferred cashless free time to pocket money, giving a miss to delivering newspapers. Just because 12-year-olds are eligible to work doesn’t mean that they’ll prefer to work.</p><p>---<br>I am willing to love all mankind, except an American…<br />
<br />
— Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: 15th April 1778<br />

[Jesse]

My understanding of the general definition of the word 'child'. If the current age is 14 and they are moving it to 12, that hardly constitutes any huge change in their stance, other than to acknowledge that teenagers are not so childish as society would believe.

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Every time you complain about the moderators, god kills a kitten.

[whelan costen]

I'm not sure about this either, or why it was needed, is it because it takes two parents and a couple of kids working part-time to make up for wages of one adult? Or is it because young people are ready willing and able to work? I worked, as a hairdresser assistant at 14 years, and could easily be exploited, I babysat at 10 yrs, but I wouldn't have a ten year old in that position of responsibility today. Things are different today. There are many settings which can be extremely dangerous in the work setting, especially with machinery; even lawn mowing can rip a few toes or fingers if the operator doesn't have proper equipment and knowledge.

For me the question is why? Why do we need to put children to work, at paid employment? At that age shoudln't they be busy with household chores, allowance money, school and playing. You spend your entire adult life working, usually for most people, that is working for someone else; not sure why we want or need them to start so young?

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

[Guest]

Well friends and neighbour, y’all never fail to amaze me with yer supreme arrogances mixed liberally with down home wisdom.
Capable of rational that 12 eh?
By that brilliant bit of ‘rational thought’ reasoning why not extend the right to participate in all elections- civic through to federal?
Hasn’t any body re-cognised the impact this will have on increased consumer purchasing power?
One child’s story is as follows;
“Now 15, Cassandra Whieldon started working when she was barely 14. Her resume reads like a who's who of the fast-food industry. She is one 15-year-old who is definitely not afraid of quitting.
"I worked at Burger King, Tim Hortons, McDonald's and then Xentel as a telemarketer," she said.
She said she started working because her parents weren't giving her enough spending money.
"Now I've got my own money," she said. "Got a job, got money and you know, bought clothes. It's fun."

Pay particular attention to the last sentence!
It seems to me the ideas of consumerism are furthered while ‘rational though’ something in short supply amongst the adult population judging by the politicians they choose to make their ‘big people’ decisions for them, get short shift.

[Jesse]

"why not extend the right to participate in all elections- civic through to federal?"

That's exactly what I meant when I said to increase the rights and responsibilities as well. I don't see where arrogance comes into it.

Thank you for the anecdote. Sadly, the plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.

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Every time you complain about the moderators, god kills a kitten.

[eugene]

Arbeit Mach Frei<br />
<a href="http://redbetweenthelines.modblog.com/core.mod?show=blogview&blog_id=667609">http://redbetweenthelines.modblog.com/core.mod?show=blogview&blog_id=667609</a><br />
Child labour law will work, minister says<br />
"Work is healthy, it doesn't hurt. That's what keeps our high standard of living in Alberta and in Canada. People work, everybody works."<br />
Mike Cardinal Alberta's human resources and employment minister

[Guest]

That was a really cheap one eugene. Actually, under the right circumstances having children "work" is a valuable way to educate them about some aspects of what it means to live as a member of a civil society.

[eugene]

Of course it was a cheap shot. And what will children learn in McCivil society, that employers exploit them, that unions are bad,that buying Nike's is more important than homework?