LABOR OF MINORS: BALANCING THE RIGHT TO WORK AND THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION

Abstract

It analyzes the legal and regulatory framework governing the employment of minors, including age restrictions, reduced working hours, special wage regulations, and the prohibition of hazardous work. The article examines the advantages of employment for adolescents, such as the development of social competencies, financial literacy, and professional experience. It also addresses the risks associated with minors’ employment, including decreased academic performance, harm to physical and mental health, socio-legal vulnerability, and the risk of exploitation.

Particular attention is given to how war and emergency conditions alter the nature of minors’ work, creating new and extremely complex challenges. The study reviews international practices in regulating child labor, using Germany and Canada as examples, which demonstrate a prioritization of education and strict enforcement of labor standards. The article concludes that the issue of minors’ employment remains highly relevant. The legal regulation of child labor in Ukraine is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires constant balancing between the right to work and the right to education. Teenage employment can be assessed both positively and negatively. On the one hand, it fosters independence, financial awareness, and valuable experience. On the other hand, excessive labor poses a threat—it harms health, impedes academic success, and exposes children to deception and exploitation. Although the legal framework establishes protective rules for minors’ employment, these rules will not be effective unless the state, parents, and employers consistently and rigorously monitor their implementation.