Eighth graders ask Salem council to expand job opportunities for 14-year-olds

A group of Salem eighth graders presented a petition at the May 14 council meeting requesting that the city expand youth employment opportunities to include 14-year-olds who can obtain work permits. The students said they had collected more than 100 signatures and cited barriers to jobs at Market Basket and other locations that are difficult to reach for teens without cars.

The students described the project as part of an Action Civics class and said they had interviewed Laura Saad (director of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Salem Public Schools) while preparing their petition. One student told the council that including 14-year-olds in the city's youth-work program could benefit businesses that struggle with seasonal staffing and could provide seniors with help on tasks such as leaf removal and snow shoveling.

Councilor King moved to receive and file the petition and suspended the rules to allow the students to speak. King and other councilors praised the students' research and encouraged continued conversation with city departments and the council on aging to explore feasible program designs that address liability and supervision concerns.

Councilors asked staff to look into options and encouraged ongoing engagement with students and businesses; the petition was received and filed by the council.