The Yukon Federation of Labour issued a call today for child labour legislation for the territory.

The fact an employer (with the exception of the mining industry) in the Yukon can hire anyone of any age to work is a 'national embarrassment', reporters were told this morning

There are no regulations in the Yukon around employing children with the exception of the mining industry, federation president Alex Furlong pointed out at a news conference.

Nunavut is the only other territory or province in the country not to have any child labour regulations set out, he said.

The toll of young people being injured on the job continues to rise. The number of injuries last year rose 20 per cent, he said.

'There does not seem to be any apparent reason for this gap in our legislation and regulations,' Furlong told reporters. 'It is simply something that until recently has not been on our radar screen.'

Within the last 10 to 15 years, all political parties have formed the territorial government at one time and had an opportunity to bring in legislation, Furlong argued.

It will only be a matter of time before he's reading off the name of a youth killed on the job during the annual April 28 Day of Mourning ceremony, held to remember those who have died on the job, he commented.

In issuing his call to the government to bring in legislation to address child labour in the territory, Furlong also asked parents and the business community to make the issue front and centre.

'It must be on top of the radar screen. We need to address it,' he said.

With the Yukon saddled with one of the worst safety records in the country, Furlong said, 'everything is stacked up against us,' and something needs to be done.

It's long past the time for excuses as to why something hasn't been done earlier, the federation leader added.

While Furlong didn't have the number of youth who work in the territory, he noted from his own personal observations there seem to be younger and younger workers in the community.

The federation is willing to work with the government on any regulations or legislation to protect children in the territory, he said.

Part of the discussion that needs to happen is whether there should be an age requirement or some other method such as signed parental consent for a young person to work, Furlong suggested. He's had youth under the age of 12 serve him at businesses in the Yukon, he added.

The territory is unique in that there are many family businesses where youth may be working for their families, and that would also have to be considered in any new regulations as well.

Whatever new standards were to come out would likely be better than what's in place now, Furlong said.

He later noted the territory needs to look at a minimum age standard, then look at the industry and whether a parent's or minister's consent may be required as well.

Walking into businesses where staff are younger than his own kids are, Furlong said, he has to question why society isn't allowing kids to simply be kids at that age.

His own 12-year-old has been asking for permission to get a job for the last year because she knows other kids her age who work.

With legislation from other jurisdictions available, Furlong said, new regulations for the territory shouldn't need a lengthy period to be put in place. It could take six months or sooner, he said.

NDP Labour critic Steve Cardiff said the legislation is among a number of items that need to be updated and modernized.

In this case, the work needs to be done sooner rather than later for the protection of children in the territory.

He would like to see something done this year to deal with the issue.

'It's a gap that's been identified,' he said, noting the urgency of the issue.

As for what the minimum age of a worker should be, Cardiff said that should depend on the industry, with break-downs in the legislation for various jobs.

As he noted, a younger worker may be able to take on a babysitting job or newspaper route, for example.

Furlong argued the business community may take issue with the move, due to the widespread labour shortage.

'I am sure the business community is going to say we have a severe labour shortage,' and I can hear it now, but let them look a parent in the eye when a child gets killed on the job in this territory, and let them explain to them about their labour shortage,' Furlong said.

Contacted following the press conference, Rick Karp, president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce president, said while the issue still has to be discussed among its members, he personally agrees with the proposal.

'They have our applause and support,' Karp said, noting he has trouble when he sees a 10- or 11-year-old working.

That said, he also pointed to Furlong's statement calling for consideration for the number of family-run businesses in the territory.

He noted that though he has trouble with younger youth working, research shows that older high school students who hold part-time jobs of 15 or fewer hours per week tend to be more responsible and do better in school.

There has to be a balance that allows older youth to work while protecting them as well, he said.

The labour federation also criticized Karp for earlier comments he made on the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board (WCB) stating it would audit businesses that don't sign up for the Choices program.

Furlong and the federation's executive director, Doug Rody, argued Karp's comments on that and other issues have done nothing to contribute to a solution in reducing the number of workplace injuries.

'I'm profoundly dismayed at the leadership of the Whitehorse business community,' Furlong said.

The business community needs to step up to the plate and have safe workplaces for employees, he said.

'They need to do their part.'

Rody argued the 1,960 claims filed to the WCB last year are in fact 'real numbers' on injuries that happened at the workplace.

That it's 65 per cent of those that are usually accepted as claims only means they didn't require off-site medical attention or time off work, he said. Rody was responding to Liberal WCB critic Don Inverarity's concerns about the number of injuries in 2007.

He went on to note that part of the purpose behind the Choices program, which provides financial incentives for employers, is to work with them to make sure they are complying with the act. If an employer has signed on, they are obviously working with the board to make sure they meet regulations they need to.

'Why would an investigator investigate an employer who's already working with the board to ensure they are in compliance with the act?' Rody asked.

That leaves investigators with two groups to look at workers and employers who haven't signed on to Choices, he said pointing out it was Karp who lobbied for the WCB to hire an investigator.

'Now, when the investigator is investigating, Mr. Karp is complaining,' Rody said.

This morning, Karp continued to defend his earlier comments. He argued the WCB needs to work in more of a partnership with businesses and by auditing those that don't sign up for a voluntary program, they are not doing so.

Many businesses may have never had a claim, but might also not have the time to spend on Choices, he argued.

Karp addressed Furlong's question about what he's done to promote safety in the workplace. He said the chamber has been involved in a partnership with the Northern Safety Network, provided information to members through their bulletin and tapped into federal funds to promote safety.

'We've been very a active,' he said, adding that as a business owner, he has found management and staff are often talking about safety, and there has been only one claim five years ago, he said.