Who's Looking Out for Our Kids? Deregulating Child Labour Law in BC

Book excerpt: It is the responsibility of the employer to produce proactive child protection is reflected in the new title given a letter of parental consent in the event of a complaint. [...] Among this paper's key findings are the following: Under the previous child labour permit system, be- • The government asserts that new regulations writ- fore employing a child under the age of 15, an employer ten to accompany the amendments to the Act, pro- was required to obtain a permit from the Director of Em- vide adequate protection for children in the work ployment Standards and consent fro [...] Consideration about whether employment Agreement on Labour (an addendum to the North is in the best interest of the child takes a backseat to American Free Trade Agreement) was designed to the family's immediate financial pressures. [...] Instead of fining the employer and closing down the business, the branch worked with the employer • Education programs for parents and employers to bring its business practices into compliance with the about child employment permit requirements were Act: routes were redesigned in order to eliminate the child not pursued because of the cost of both the pro- needing to cross busy streets, deliveries [...] On the site, the officer discovered that while the boy could easily enter the walk-in freezer, he was not strong enough to operate the internal lever to exit the freezer.