US Mac Donald's employing 14 year olds

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58414597

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A branch of McDonald's in Oregon, US, is calling on 14 and 15 year old's to apply for jobs at the restaurant amid a shortage of fast food workers.

The Biddle Road franchise in Medford put a banner outside its shop two weeks ago, urging younger workers to apply.

According to reports, it has seen a spike in applications since making the offer, which complies with labour laws.

It comes as fast food and other outlets across the US struggle to fill vacancies despite restrictions easing.

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How come the US is employing 14 year old's while India and other countries are blamed and criticized for child labour when children below 18 are employed in restaurants and homes?!

Sriram

[Aruntraveller]

I think generally when Child Labour is talked about it is in terms of younger children, so age 10 and below, that is seen as the unacceptable factor.

In the UK people can start paid work from the age of 13 - it has to be part time, though.

I don't see anything hypocritical about it, although your post sounds a tad ingenuous.

[Sebastian Toe]

The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that:
is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/orinterferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

https://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm

[Roses]

As long as the children are not being forced to work, being treated well, only working part time and it isn't interfering with their schoolwork, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Harrowby Hall]

I recall, when I was about 7 or 8 and at my infant/junior school, that senior boys at the school (13 or 14 or so) who hadn't passed the 11+, in mid September, would be taken out of school for two weeks to do potato picking.

[Sebastian Toe]

I recall, when I was about 7 or 8 and at my infant/junior school, that senior boys at the school (13 or 14 or so) who hadn't passed the 11+, in mid September, would be taken out of school for two weeks to do potato picking.

In Scotland we used to have official "Tattie holidays" in order to howk for the local farmers during harvest.

[Robbie]

As long as the children are not being forced to work, being treated well, only working part time and it isn't interfering with their schoolwork, it shouldn't be a problem.

That;s right. Many youngsters do a little part time work & enjoy it as well as the money. There's a shortage of vacancies here in England right now.