uncharted.ca

According to recent global estimates by the International Labor Office, the number of working children aged 5 to 14 in developing countries is in the order of 250 million, of whom some 120 million work full time in various jobs often under hazardous conditions amid crude living conditions. A surplus of unskilled workers and low wages have combined to create conditions for children similar to the worst features of factories, mines and mills from the 1800s with minimal chances for education and future happiness.

After the draft legislation was introduced last May, it was criticized by a wide range of groups representing and serving children; the Liberals later announced they would introduce accompanying regulations (which are weaker than laws) on December 14. What those regulations will contain has not been made public, but while speaking in the legislature, Bruce has suggested they will contain a cap on the number of hours that children under 15 can work - 20 hours per week during the school year, and 35 per week in the summer. Even with these additions, however, B.C. will have the weakest child-labour standards in Canada.