Depending on the province, child labour provisions generally do not allow children under the ages of 14, 15, 16, or 17 to be employed. In some provinces, written government or parental permission can allow exceptions.

In some jurisdictions, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from working anywhere that can be dangerous to their health or well­being, such as a construction site. Children may also be prohibited from working during normal school hours and may be limited in the total number of hours they can work each day.

Because there are many exceptions, view your provincial government website for the specific regulations:

• Alberta Youth Employment Laws
• British Columbia Children and the Employment Standards Act
• Manitoba Employment Standards for Young People
• New Brunswick Employment of Children
• Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Standards
• Northwest Territories Employment Standards
• Nova Scotia Employment of Children
• Nunavut Labour Standards
• Ontario Young Workers’ Rights
• Prince Edward Island Employment Standards
• Quebec Youth Employment
• Saskatchewan Minimum Wage and Workplace Restrictions
• Yukon Employment Standards Act

For more information on employment standards, view the Employment Law section of Legal Line.

								
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