adminACCORDING to the International Labour Organisation Convention 38 on the minimum age for admission to employment and work, one of the most effective methods of ensuring that children do not start working too young is to set the age at which children can legally be employed or otherwise work. The main principles of the ILO’s Convention concerning the minimum age of admission to employment and work are in the table below.
Hazardous work
Any work which is likely to jeopardize children’s physical, mental or moral heath, safety or morals should not be done by anyone under the age of 18.
◆ The minimum age at which children can start work – 18 (16 under strict conditions)
◆ Possible exceptions for developing countries – 18 (16 under strict conditions)
Basic minimum age
The minimum age for work should not be below the age for finishing compulsory schooling, and in any case not less than 15.
◆ The minimum age at which children can start work — 15 years.
◆ Possible exceptions for developing countries — 14 years.
Light work
Children between the ages of 13 and 15 years may do light work, as long as it does not threaten their health and safety, or hinder their education or vocational orientation and training.
◆ The minimum age at which children can start work – 13 to 15 years.
◆ Possible exceptions for developing countries — 12 to14 years. — source : ILO
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