News item | 13-04-2023 | 5:55 pm
It will be forbidden for children up to the age of 16 to work as flash delivery drivers. With this, the cabinet is in line with the existing ban on delivering meals to children. The ban will take effect this year. The Minister of Social Affairs Karien van Gennip will also adjust the times at which children are allowed to work on non-school days. Children will soon also be allowed to work from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, on the strict condition that the rest time remains the same and that the parent/guardian gives permission. It will also be possible for children under the age of 16 to work on Sunday, subject to the same conditions. More time is needed to make clearer rules for children who work as influencers. Minister Karien van Gennip writes this to the House of Representatives.
Minister Karien van Gennip: “It is forbidden for children to deliver meals and I would add a ban on flash delivery. It can be dangerous to navigate through traffic on an (electric) bicycle under time pressure, for example to deliver groceries, which is why I prohibit this work for children under the age of 16. Children are allowed to earn some extra money under certain conditions, but of course they must be able to do so safely.”
Research
For young meal delivery drivers and flash delivery drivers, it can be dangerous to work in traffic on an (electric) bicycle and under time pressure. But for other new forms of child labour, the risks and legal designation are less clear. Because young entrepreneurship, such as vlogging and influencing are popular, but can also entail risks for mental health and school performance. Think of pressure to always have to make videos for followers, always ‘on’ and negative reactions online. The rules also concern very young children who feature in parents’ vlogs.
The laws and regulations for child labor are currently insufficiently in line with these new forms of work by children. Research commissioned by the minister has shown that there should be clearer rules for young influencers and young entrepreneurs. Those rules should make it clearer when, for example, vlogging is a hobby and when it is work. The amendments modernise, clarify and tighten the regulations. The starting point is the protection of the child, which also looks at the positive aspects of work for children. The House of Representatives will be informed about the state of affairs in the first half of 2024.