Cube 2004

There’s always trouble over children’s rights, and what we think we’re entitled to, but what are our actual rights? In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted “the Convention on the Rights of the Child”. This historic treaty, now made legal by all but two countries, entitles us to;
• Health.
• Education.
• An adequate standard of living.
• Leisure and play.
• Protection from exploitation.
• The freedom to express our own opinions. and much, much, more. These rights apply to every child in the world.

Rights at work

The government has placed Limits on how much we are paid, and how long we can work.

15 to 16 year olds
• Can’t work more than 2 hours after school or an hour before school,
• Can work for no more that 8 hours on a Saturday
• Mustn’t work more than 2 hours on a Sunday.
• And can’t work more than 12 hours on a school week or 35 hours a week in the holidays.

13 to 14 year olds
• Can’t work more than 2 hours after school or more than an hour before
• Can’t work for more than 5 hours on Saturday or two hours on Sunday
• Mustn’t work more than 5 hours a day in the school holidays.
• You mustn’t work more than 12 hours in a school week, or over 35 hours a week in the school holidays.

And what about pay?

Well the minimum wage may be £3:00 an hour for 17 to 16 year olds, but if you’re under 16? Then you have NO MINUMUM WAGE PROTECTION, so if that’s you and you’re thinking of getting a job, make sure you know about your wages first.

So we haven’t got ANY minimum wage? What about our right to protection from exploitation? If you want to exercise your right to express your opinion on this and other issues, then why not;
• Contact your local MP- you can go to www.theyworkforyou.com to find out who your MP is, and how to contact them.
• Start an online petition- there are a number of online sites that will host a petition free of charge (this service is open to everyone, so there might be something on there that you don’t like)
• Create an action group with your friends, a little effort goes a long way.

Remember whatever you do, be safe, and check with your parents before you release your personal details.

By Eloise Nisbet

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