English Reading Practice

Human Right Number 23:
Workers’ Rights

1. Watch the video at the top of the page.

2. Read the story "Workers’ Rights" just below it.

3. Do the exercise at the bottom of the page.

Here is the Workers’ Rights video. You can watch it in your own language at www.youthforhumanrights.org. (Simply click the word "language" at the top of their homepage.)



The Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes 30 basic rights that each person has, simply because he or she is human.

This is human right number 23 (the simplified version):

"23. Workers’ Rights. Every grown-up has the right to do a job, to a fair wage for their work, and to join a trade union."

Now read the short story about this important human right.

Workers’ Rights  

Terry wants very much to get a job. He wants to earn money so that he can buy a car.

Terry's parents do not want him to get a job. They say they want him to focus on school. Terry knows that school is important, but he also really wants that car.

Terry does not tell them, but he applies for a job at a grocery store, and he gets the job.

He waits until dinner to tell them the good news. They are not exactly excited. Then Terry explains to them that he still cares about school, but that he also wants to work. He tells them that he is an adult and that he has the right to work and to earn money of his own.

Finally, Terry's parents agree to support him as he goes to work for the first time.

Terry does very well at his new job at the grocery store. Within a few months, he is able to buy a car of his own! And when he drives it up his parents' driveway, they are quite proud of him.

And now, practice:

Exercise 01

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