An audit campaign earlier this year found minor breaches of the state’s two-year old Child Employment Act 2006, mostly relating to paperwork and consent form inconsistencies.
The audit campaign found no Dickensian nightmares of children working down mines or in other dangerous jobs, but it did highlight some ignorance as to the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved.
The Act was designed to ensure child workers were not ripped off, not performing dangerous work and not neglecting their school studies.
The minimum age does not apply to work in a family business or in the entertainment industry, which is governed by separate provisions.
Under the Act, younger children aged 11 and 12 years of age may only be employed in supervised delivery work and only between 6am and 6pm.
Employers are required to keep detailed records of child employees and to provide induction packages and appropriate training, including workplace health and safety training. Children generally must not work between 10pm and 6am, with exclusions for children working in the entertainment industry and family businesses.
Parents also have a responsibility to provide a consent form which has to be signed by the parent and returned to the employer before a child can start work.
For a copy of the Child Employment Guide or further information on the Child Employment Act 2006, please visit the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations’ website at www.deir.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 945.
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