Cafe that hires 11-year-olds sparks criticism amid push for minimum age for Australian workers

A regional cafe which employs children as young as 11 to make jams and relishes has been criticised amid a push for a national minimum age for child workers, but others have defended the cafe against social media uproar.

On the weekend, the ABC reported on a cafe in country New South Wales where most of the 100 workers are school-age children. The Long Track Pantry in Jugiong, faced with a workforce shortage, hired children aged 11 and older to work in the factory kitchen and cafe.

The children are paid award wages to wash dishes, make jams and relishes and serve customers.

States and territories all have different laws governing child employment and to prevent child labour, but not all of them stipulate a minimum age. NSW does not have a minimum age. The minimum wage for children under 16 is 36.8% of the national minimum wage.

An employment and workplace relations survey in June last year found about 214,500 children aged 15 and under were legally working.

The convention allows for exclusions so children under 13 can work in circumstances where it will not affect their health, wellbeing, or education, and gives examples including in family farms or shops, delivering newspapers or pamphlets, mowing lawns, babysitting, volunteering, or doing light household chores.

Wilson said ratifying the convention would put Australia on a stronger footing to identify and abolish child labour.

She said Australia often lagged on child policies, and was ranked 32 out of 38 wealthy countries on child wellbeing.

Guardian Australia has contacted Long Track Pantry for comment.