Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Child labour not just a third world problem

Child labour not just a third world problem

The New Zealand youth union movement Stand Up believes more needs to be done to address issues around child labour in New Zealand and around the world. This Saturday June 12 marks the ILO's World Day Against Child Labour.

“Millions of children around the world are working in unacceptable conditions,” said Stand Up convenor James Sleep. “The World Day Against Child Labour gives visibility to this important issue, and further momentum to efforts aimed at eradicating various forms of child labour.”

Sleep added that while children in New Zealand are not subjected to the same level of violations as children in third world countries, there are thousands of young people under 16 across New Zealand working in relatively poor conditions and earning low wages.

“We must ask the question: why do many young people work? Research from The Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC), last week told us that New Zealand is a great place for children of parents who have a high income. However, it is a dramatically different story for children whose parents do not. It is these children we are concerned about,” said Sleep.

Sleep said the effects from the recession have put increasing pressures on many low income families, and for many young people this has meant a shift in focus from working for pocket money, to working to help support their families. This expectation for young people to work puts them in a difficult dilemma and puts extra pressure on their participation in education.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The anecdotal evidence of young people being exploited by New Zealand employers is saddening. These include cases of young people being paid as little as $1 per hour delivering papers and circulars, through to young people in supermarkets being paid as little as $4.50, when a colleague a few months older could be on triple the amount, because of their age. This is shameful and simply not the fair Kiwi way.”

On this World Day against child labour Stand Up backs the call for more of the right kind of investment in young people.

“It is appalling that many young people formally engaged in the labour market are not treated with dignity. The Government and employers must recognise this and end the exploitation of young workers.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.