World Day Against Child Labour: SA Unions call for immediate legislation on minimum working age in South Australia
June 11, 2024
On this World Day Against Child Labour, SA Unions and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) are jointly calling on the South Australian Government to take decisive action to protect children by legislating a minimum working age.
Despite international recognition of the importance of protecting children from exploitation, and Australia signing up to the 1973 ILO Minimum Age Convention (No. 138), South Australia is still without a legal minimum working age. This lack of framework to prevent the exploitation of child labour, puts our youngest and most vulnerable at risk.
Establishing a minimum working age is not just about aligning with international standards but also about ensuring the health, education, and overall well-being of children in South Australia.
Earlier this year, the South Australian Parliament has already acted to ban child-sex offenders from working with minors, SA Unions believe the introduction of a minimum working age is a logical next step to protect young South Australian workers.
“It is simply unacceptable that in 2024, we still have no minimum working age in South Australia. Children should be in schools and enjoying their childhood, not in workplaces this early in their lives.
“Younger workers are vulnerable and are over-represented in workplace injury statistics as it is. A minimum age for work must be introduced along with a comprehensive workplace health and safety education that begins in schools.”
Quotes attributable to Josh Peak, Secretary, SDA:
“The lack of a minimum working age is a glaring oversight in our state’s legal system. On this World Day Against Child Labour, we call on the South Australian Government to step up and legislate a minimum working age.”
“Child labour is a form of exploitation that we must eradicate. The South Australian Government has the power and responsibility to protect our children by enacting laws that set a clear minimum working age,”
“When I speak to the parents of young workers, they’re always shocked when I tell them South Australia has no minimum working age. Young workers are incredibly vulnerable, and they must be protected from a premature entry to the workplace.”