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Explore

In the 1800s, many children did not attend school. Children were expected to contribute to the family economy. Sometimes, this meant working for parents in the home or on the farm. Sometimes this meant working in industries, such as factories, mills, or mines. Often, children were exploited; they worked in poor conditions for long hours and received little pay.


Continue to explore the rights of individuals in the workplace as you watch the video, Chandler's Mill.

Note: The video is approximately 25 minutes long.

In this historical drama, you will see how workers, especially child workers, face poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages. This video illustrates the real issues of child labour, worker's rights, and union organizing in nineteenth-century Canada.

©Thinkstock

©Thinkstock

Each province in Canada has established labour laws for youth. In Alberta, the government of Alberta establishes rules for hiring youths and working conditions.

Click on the following link to access information about rights and responsibilities in Alberta workplaces.

A Guide to Rights and Responsibilities in Alberta Workplaces

Read pages 8, 12, 16, and 17 of the document to find information about the following.

• rules for hiring youth
• hours of work for youth
• minimum wage
• required employee rest period
• worker and employer safety responsibilities

Record what you have discovered about the rules in Alberta for youth in the workplace using note form, a bulleted list, or a graphic organizer of your choice.

Place your notes in your Activities folder.

So far, you have examined child labour in Canada in the nineteenth century and labour laws for youth today as you investigated the rules in "A Guide to Rights and Responsibilities in Alberta Workplaces".

In Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms establishes equality in the workplace. Individuals have the right to work without discrimination based on gender, age, race, or religion.

Individual and workplace rights continue to evolve. Sometimes the changes occur as a result of challenges to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Read "How does the Charter affect the workplace?" on pages 112 to 115 of the textbook, Issues for Canadians, to learn about two specific Charter challenges.

Make note of the causes and effects of these two challenges.

Going Beyond

 Internet Web Search
If you are interested in learning more about child labour, visit the following site to learn about Craig Kielburger's story.

https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/issues-power-of-one/1999/10/01/free-the-children-the-story-of-craig-kielburger/