While strict regulations have been introduced to stop the exploitation of children and youth in the workplace, agriculture has a rather unique environment that allows them to do a different number of jobs, both on the land itself and under certain conditions using tractors and other agricultural machinery.

Many farmers don’t like the description of farming as a way of life, but in many ways it is. A farm will normally be operated by the family, and young members of the family will often be actively involved in the work itself.

Additionally, youth can often be employed for seasonal work, such as picking fruit or vegetables, in what would normally be considered a holiday job. This is absolutely fine, as long as certain conditions and legal obligations are met.

Most countries had fairly strict labor laws regarding children, and many of these laws will have an exemption for workers in the farming and ranching industries. It is important for any farm owner to know the legal position of both his own families and any other young people he may employ on the farm.

It should also be remembered that many young people in their teens, possibly around the age of 14 or 15, often drive tractors or other farm machinery such as ATVs and other utility vehicles.

Certain laws provide for this, provided proper training is provided and a certain level of supervision is enacted. It should also be remembered that local laws will prohibit minors under a certain age from driving these vehicles on public roads, which would almost certainly exclude anyone under the age of 17.

There are a wide variety of different jobs on a farm, depending on the nature of what is being grown or produced, what types of machinery are used, and what the legal definition of farming or ranching is in the state or country where the farm is located. .

It is likely that once a legal definition is understood and clarified, it will need to be clarified within that definition what kinds of jobs youth over a certain age should be allowed to do, and specifically what jobs they will not be allowed to do. The law should also specify by age what is considered a reasonable age for children to do any type of work on a farm, paid or unpaid.

The types of jobs that are typically considered suitable for most teens fall into two main categories. One, already mentioned, would be areas such as the collection of fruits and vegetables. This could also include cleaning and bundling said fruits, stacking them in boxes or crates, and possibly loading them onto vans or trucks as well.

The other area of ​​work would involve working with animals. This is a bit of a grayer area, as someone with animals would be relatively safe, while other types of work would bypass the more dangerous ones.

Helping with animals like sheep and cows, which would involve milking these animals, is quite common on many farms where teenagers work. Other work that could include larger, more volatile animals could be considered dangerous.

It should also be noted, though hopefully obvious, that teens and young children should never be involved in any type of work that involves dangerous or hazardous chemicals.

These are common on many farms, and children should never be exposed to working near them, either when they are being used or in the areas where they are later stored.

Although agriculture and livestock provide for the employment of young people, there are also very strict sanctions for any type of breach of the laws that may apply to them. These penalties typically include large fines and can also include prison sentences in the most serious cases.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *