As of today, sa国际传媒鈥檚 general working age is 16 鈥� but don鈥檛 worry, your child can still babysit or have a paper route.
Changes to employment standards effective Oct. 15 raise the general working age in sa国际传媒 from 12 to 16 and define the types of jobs that are appropriate for those under 16.
A Ministry of Labour media release notes that young people ages 14 and 15 are able to do jobs defined as 鈥渓ight work鈥� with permission from a parent or guardian. In some cases, they may be permitted to do other work with a permit from the Ministry of Labour鈥檚 Employment Standards Branch.
The new rules do not prevent young people from babysitting or delivering newspapers part time, or students from working in a work-study or work experience class, which are among the jobs excluded from the new rules.
Children 12 and older can continue to be employed in a business or on a farm owned by an immediate family member, as long as the work meets the safety criteria set out in the regulation.
Jobs for youth
Occupations that are now prescribed as light work appropriate for youth 14 and 15 include:
鈥� cashier
鈥� computer programmer
鈥� golf caddy
鈥� lifeguard or lifeguard assistant
鈥� messenger or courier
鈥� peer counsellor
鈥� performing artist
鈥� recreation or community program attendant
鈥� referee or umpire
鈥� salesperson, other than door-to-door
鈥� server of food or drink, other than alcohol
鈥� sports or recreational coach or instructor
鈥� summer or day camp leader
鈥� tutor or instructor
鈥� visual artist or graphic designer
鈥� writer, editor or similar
Not allowed
Occupations or situations that are now generally considered as unsafe for youth under 16 include:
鈥� repairing, maintaining or operating heavy machinery
鈥� places where a minor is not permitted to enter
鈥� sites of construction, heavy manufacturing, heavy industrial work
鈥� sites designed to retain an oxygen-deficient or toxic atmosphere
鈥� walk-in freezers or coolers, other than to place or retrieve an item
鈥� handling substances that minors cannot legally purchase, use or distribute (for example, liquor or tobacco)
鈥� lifting, carrying or moving heavy items or animals
鈥� using, handling or applying hazardous substances like pesticides
These changes to the Employment Standards Act were initiated through legislation in the spring of 2019. Consultations were held with more than 1,700 youth, parents and employers from multiple sectors before prior to finalizing the changes this year.
The ministry says the new rules bring British Columbia in line with international standards for children鈥檚 employment. Prior to these changes, sa国际传媒 was the only province in sa国际传媒 whose general minimum working age was as young as 12.
