노동에서의 청소년권 보호 방안

The purpose of this study lies in inquiring into the actual conditions of youth labor and seeking for cognitive and legal measures to protect the youth labor rights. As such, teenagers are often discriminated or alienated in poor working conditions for being young or working on a short shift. In addition to the violation of their rights to labor, equality, safety, health, protection, and growth, it is likely to put a crimp on their building self-esteem or self-identity and outlook on the society. Then, what is the major reason why youth labor rights are violated? In spite of the increase in teenager part-time works, the anachronistic social perception that equates it with academic degradation and deviation or that denigrates the value of youth labor are the major reasons for violation of youth labor rights in part-time jobs. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize such negative cognitions, so as to protect youth labor rights. Additionally, a huge change in overall social perception is strongly required to consider youth labor normal, not temporary and abnormal. As a part of efforts to change such outmoded perceptions, a series of continued public relations and education are required at national level to acknowledge youth labor and ultimately protect their rights to work. In this respect, it is mandatory to enlarge the opportunities of education on labor rights and related laws, to increase awareness of their rights and provide sufficient information about their labor rights, optimal working conditions, various problems, and corrective measures. Still, it is imperative to improve not only awareness but also laws and regulations related to the youth labor rights. The laws and regulations in relation to the standards of youth and their age, protected labor age, employment certification system, and standby time should be amended or enacted. It is also necessary to revise the related laws to make employment supervisor system realistic and effective.