To the machine from the age of 14: a bill on the employment of adolescents was submitted to the Duma

Ivan Zubov

The catastrophic demographic situation in the country forces the authorities to make very controversial decisions. Russian media report that a bill has been submitted to the State Duma to allow children to work from the age of 14. In principle, adolescents could work at this age without such a law, however, if it is adopted (and there is almost no doubt about this), then the need for the consent of the guardianship authorities when concluding an employment contract will be excluded, and the consent of one of the parents will be sufficient. Also, the employer will be exempted from the need to carry out a medical examination at his own expense - the results of a medical examination of an “insignificant statute of limitations” are sufficient.

The need for such a law is explained simply: the impoverishment of the population against the backdrop of Western sanctions. The explanatory note says:

“Under the conditions of economic sanctions pressure from states unfriendly to the Russian Federation, work, and therefore the income of a teenager, is also financial support for the family, instilling in him a sense of responsibility.”

Separately, the deputies stipulate that labor should be easy and not harm the health of children.

True, one of the co-authors of the project, Chairman of the Committee on Youth Policy Artem Metelev explained the need for such a law by the activity of Russian youth, whose dream of work is prevented by bureaucracy and countless approvals:

“The guys want to grow and develop, they want to get work experience, but there are no effective mechanisms for this now. According to studies, nine out of ten teenagers would like to start working before the age of 18, but they cannot officially find a job ... "

Another co-author of the bill, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Youth Policy Mikhail Kiselev, said that according to statistics, about 520,000 teenagers under the age of 18 get jobs every year, and the demand for them constantly exceeds supply. But the existing difficulties in the employment procedure lead to the fact that young people are forced to work informally, and therefore it becomes difficult to protect their rights.

The most frequent comment on this initiative on social networks was this:

“Well, a little more and serfdom will be returned ...”