Youth Employment Act 653

An act to ensure reasonable youth employment is legalised and additionally to ensure that youth education and upbringing is not unduly and negatively influenced by over work.

PASSED on 28 April 2023, with 18 Aye, 10 Nay, and 1 Abstain.

RECOGNISING that a gap in Kodiak's labour laws allows minors to be employed without regard. This act seeks to ADDRESS a critical ethical and moral issue involving the employment of minors, and the potential of abuse in the form of child labour. This act ACCEPTS that employment can be a beneficial part of development and integration with Kodiak society, however RECOGNISES that the education of minors is of extreme importance for the nation and in facilitates opportunities and success in adult life. THEREFORE proposes to amend The Labour Act.

Amendment 1 - Administrative Amendment

1.1 - Updates the title of The Labour Act (Inter) to The Labour Act (653) in line with latest amendments, inclusive of this amendment.

Amendment 2 - Addition of Article 4 - Legal Employment Age

4.1 - All workers 18 years of age or older, or have completed secondary schooling prior to the age of 18, may be employed without restriction to hours due to age, as defined by the clauses following.

4.2 - All persons may only be employed if they are at least 15 years of age.

4.2.1 - An exception may be applied for and granted for minors in theatre, movies, television, voice acting, and modeling.

4.2.2 - Family-owned or run businesses, and farms may employ minors from 13 years of age as long as the work adheres to restrictions on hours, and can be considered light work and not heavy or dangerous work.

4.3 - Persons between the age of 15-18 that are currently legally obligated to be in education may not exceed 9 hours combined of school and work hours on any day, and may not exceed 7.5 hours on any day that does not include schooling.

4.4 - The maximum allowed hours of work per working week for persons under the age of 18 is 20 hours.

4.5 - Workers under the age of 18 are not permitted to work between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00.

4.6 - Workers under the age of 18 are prohibited from heavy and dangerous work. The Ministry of Commerce and Labour may expand this list but at the minimum, the restrictions are as follows:

4.6.1 - Dangerous, heavy, or industrial machinery and vehicles

4.6.2 - Work related to the armed forces and policing, with the exception of formal cadet programs that do not have a high potential to cause injury to the minor nor endanger the minor's life. Additionally, the work should not require the minor to perform duties that may endanger the life of others or injure others, or can be considered as direct actions related to law enforcement or war fighting.

4.6.3 - Mining work that is not considered clerical, administrative, or office-related work.

4.6.4 - Dangerous construction work that may unreasonably risk the health or life of the child.

4.7 - Operation of heavy machinery or industrial machinery exceptions may be granted on application by an employer for training or licensing purposes. Minors approved for training must be supervised at all times by a licensed expert and provided with appropriate formal training.