FRANCOPHONE STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT THEIR WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CLASSROOM

On March 18 and 21, more than 110 students attending Francophone schools in Regina, St-Isidore-de-Bellevue and Saskatoon will be the first to benefit from an agreement between Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and the Assemblée Communautaire Fransaskoise (ACF) that brings information about the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course (YWRCC) into their classrooms.

Through Action Emploi SK, an employment program administered by the ACF, facilitators will be sharing a PowerPoint presentation and other YWRCC materials with secondary students in Francophone schools.

"Making the materials easily available in both official languages represents the ministry's commitment to providing different stakeholder groups with accessible, accurate and reliable information," Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said. "All young people need to be able to access this valuable information."

Action Emploi SK will be visiting other Francophone schools in Saskatchewan throughout the school year. French Immersion schools in the province can also contact the ACF at 306-625-3202 if they would like a facilitator to present the YWRCC information in their classrooms.

"There are close to 300 14 and 15-year-old students currently attending Francophone schools across Saskatchewan," ACF President Paul Heppelle said. "It is very important for us to be able to offer this course to them in French. This demonstrates that the students can use the French language outside of the context of their classroom work, that the French language is used in a wider context, such as acquiring this certification."

The three YWRCC course modules, as well as related informational handouts, are available online in both French and English. Hard copies of the exam in French and English are available upon request.

The YWRCC was developed by Labour Relations and Workplace Safety in accordance with Minimum Age of Employment regulations that require young workers aged 14 and 15 to complete the certificate before they can enter the workforce.

To access the French version of the YWRCC please visit http://www.aeei.gov.sk.ca/certificat-jeune-travailleur. To request a hard copy of the exam, please contact Labour Standards at 1-800-667-1783.

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For more information, contact:

Jennifer Veri
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331

Marc Masson
Assemblée Communautaire Fransaskoise
Regina
Phone: 306-924-8532