But should children be prohibited from paid employment? Does it matter if they do pay tax?

OK quickly…

My kids worked. They worked for things that they wanted, and to save. Things like tyres for the racing bike, cycle shoes, movies, and as they got older it moved into saving for uni books and the like… The youngest that we let them work was delivering newspapers, pamphlets and the like at age 12. From there they progressed to working part time in the local supermarket. My daughter was a Supervisor at age 17, responsible for all checkout staff including adults. My son was less committed; more interested in the money and running…

Their pay was good, although some of the pamphlet suppliers needed to know that a parent was looking over their shoulder, and that non-payment of wages would not be tolerated. Yes, in NZ tax is deducted at source (PAYE - Pay as you earn). So, the kids learned about preparing tax returns as well. Their income was effectively exempt tax so there was always a refund at the end of the tax year. Dad had the job until they were 14 or 15, then checked their efforts from then onward.

Most importantly both our kids learned the responsibilities that go with paid employment, and the value of return for honest work. Oh, and mowing the lawns was/is always MY job. There is no way that I would let a kid under the age of 16 loose with a 150cc 2stroke engine attached to a very sharp inverted helicopter.

The important objective is prevention of exploitation and child slavery. A noble objective and one I totally support.

But when law-makers use the most extreme instance as the measure and then pass laws to prevent any child from working, then the law is wrong.