Child Labor in Great Britain Today - According to Tulane University
Child Labour Laws: Current laws on child labour were established by the Children and Young Persons Act of 1933 which was amended in 1963. These laws stipulate that:
Minimum Wage Laws: The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 dictates today's minimum wage laws. To be covered by this act one must be 18 years of age. Minimum wage DOES NOT apply to child labourers. In October of 2001 the minimum wage for people ages 18-21 and those starting new jobs at 22 was £3.5 per hour. Those who were 22 years of age and older could expect to earn at least £4.10 per hour.
Child Labour Today: Compulsory education is the most widely used regulator of child labour and, therefore, has become the primary activity of children in the United Kingdom. However, a considerable number of children are employed in part-time jobs:
Being that children have little standing in the labour market one wonders why they choose to work. Although children receive minimal salaries for their labour, the little money they do make can grant them many economic freedoms. Some children keep this money for their own use to buy luxury goods, travel to and from places of recreation, and provide admission to leisure activities. Other children contribute their earnings to their families' income. This small amount of money can cause a 2% reduction between richer and poorer families.
- Children under 13 MAY NOT be employed.
- A schoolchild MAY NOT work during school hours, over two hours on a school day or Sunday, before 7AM or after 7PM, and 13-14 year olds MAY NOT work over 5 hours and 15 year olds 8 hours on Saturday.
- Children MAY NOT hold jobs requiring heavy physical labour. Certain jobs are also restricted.
- Children who work must be registered with the local education authority by their employers and must receive a work permit.
Minimum Wage Laws: The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 dictates today's minimum wage laws. To be covered by this act one must be 18 years of age. Minimum wage DOES NOT apply to child labourers. In October of 2001 the minimum wage for people ages 18-21 and those starting new jobs at 22 was £3.5 per hour. Those who were 22 years of age and older could expect to earn at least £4.10 per hour.
Child Labour Today: Compulsory education is the most widely used regulator of child labour and, therefore, has become the primary activity of children in the United Kingdom. However, a considerable number of children are employed in part-time jobs:
- 63-77% of school age children have at some point worked.
- 2.2-2.6 million children have been employed by age 16.
- 35% of 13-17 year olds who are still being schooled daily have jobs.
- It is estimated that 1.75-2 million children are employed in the United Kingdom.
- 51% of 13-15 year olds work 5 or fewer hours a week, 33% work 6-12 hours, and 16% work over 12 hours a week.
Being that children have little standing in the labour market one wonders why they choose to work. Although children receive minimal salaries for their labour, the little money they do make can grant them many economic freedoms. Some children keep this money for their own use to buy luxury goods, travel to and from places of recreation, and provide admission to leisure activities. Other children contribute their earnings to their families' income. This small amount of money can cause a 2% reduction between richer and poorer families.