REGULATION OF CH ILD AND ADOLESCENT EMPLOYMENT IN ALBERTA

Abstract

As part of a broader assessment ofhow well the Government of Alberta’slabour programming contributes to fairand, to a lesser degree, safe workplaces,this study examines how effectively the government enforces theEmploymentStandards Codeprovisions regulating child and adolescent employment.Enforcement strategies appear to emphasize softer forms of regulation andthereby create little disincentive for violations. Preliminary research into theemployment levels of children (age 9-11) suggests over 11,000 children areemployed, some perhaps illegally, and that further inquiry into theiremployment experiences is warranted.