Vote for your favourite in Youtube "It's Your Job!" video contest

OTTAWA, May 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Canada's labour ministers invite you to go to YouTube, from May 5 to 12, 2013, to vote for your favourite video about workplace safety and workers' rights in the "It's Your Job!" contest.

To vote, sign in to YouTube and click "Like" for your favourite video. The most popular videos in the two categories—secondary school students and Canadian residents 18 to 24 years of age not in secondary school—will receive a $1,000 prize.

The contest, launched last September by the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of labour, challenged young people to create videos demonstrating the importance of workplace safety and employment rights. In Canada, close to 1 000 workers die every year as a result of work-related accidents and young workers are far more likely than adults to be injured on the job. Although they work only 10 percent of the hours of all workers, young people account for 16 percent of all work-related injuries.

"Young workers are the future of our economy," said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Labour Minister. "By actively engaging and informing these young workers about their rights, we are helping to build and sustain healthy and safe workplaces."

Hundreds of videos were received from young people from coast to coast. The video submissions highlight the importance of safe work practices, properly using protective equipment, understanding and following safety regulations, and reporting unsafe conditions, incidents or illnesses.

In addition to the Fan Favourite prizes, there are three winning submissions in each category. The panel of celebrity judges includes Jim Caruk, master contractor and HGTV personality; Mag Ruffman, actress and TV host; Marc Kielburger, Co-founder, Free the Children; Alan Doyle, musician, songwriter and actor; Paul Kells, Founder, Safe Communities Canada and Passport to Safety; Shirley Hickman, Founder, Threads of Life; and Jonathan Plante, occupational health and safety speaker, consultant and injured worker. The judges are currently reviewing videos to decide the three winning submissions. The winning submissions and Fan Favourites will be announced later this month.

For more information on the contest, including rules and prizes, visit www.youtube.com/yourjobvotretravail or www.labour.gc.ca.

SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada