Call it work in progress.
When Canada signs an international agreement next week aimed at combating child labour practices around the world, it will join 168 other countries who have set a minimum age of 15 for child labourers.
But internal documents obtained by the Canadian Press news agency suggest that Ottawa lacks the ability or experience to make sure that international partners meet their obligations.
Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk admits that Canada still needs to work on the issues of enforcement and compliance but adds that other routes are available.
“It’s basically saying that we see the value of young people and that they should be at school, that they should not be in the workforce,” she says.
“So I would rather see us working co-operatively with other nations rather than looking at penalties.
“We would look at providing technical assistance, assisting them to find a different path, encouraging them to follow best practices that comply with the declaration.”
Mihychuk says signing the agreement won’t prohibit young people in Canada from helping out on family farms, baby-sitting, or taking part in traditional aboriginal practices.
The decision to ratify the International Labour Organization follows more than a year of reviews by officials at Employment and Social Development Canada in consultation with provincial and territorial governments.
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