The most important rule: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNDER 18 ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM WORKING. Even with a study permit, which normally allows up to 20 working hours per week, this rule does not apply to minors under 18. The ONLY EXCEPTION is for holders of CUAET status. Teenagers with a valid work or study permit can work. But setting aside CUAET holders, let's take a look at who can legally work in Canada and at what age.
Quebec is the most liberal province when it comes to child labour. There are no age, hourly, or industry restrictions. Officially, there is no minimum age to start working. However, children under 14 need parental consent. The only requirement is that work must not interfere with school, but how the teen balances that is up to them. Otherwise, teens can work in construction, mines, kitchens, assembly lines, etc.
Northern Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon have no official minimum age, but teens under 17 CANNOT:
- Work between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Work during school hours
- Teens under 16 cannot work in construction, logging, or hazardous environments
Manitoba: Legal work begins at 13. Teens under 15 require parental consent and a special provincial certificate. Teens under 15 CANNOT:
- Work in construction, industrial settings, oil & gas rigs, logging
- Work with pesticides/herbicides
- Work without direct supervision from a senior supervisor
Alberta: Legal work begins at 13.
- At 12, teens can work with parental permission in limited jobs
- At 13, allowed jobs include office clerk, store clerk, delivery person, newspaper/flyer distributor, cleaner, tutor, sports coach, and restaurant helper Teens under 14 CANNOT:
- Work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Work during school hours
- Work more than 2 hours on school days
- Work more than 8 hours on weekends or holidays
Ontario: Legal work begins at 14 with restrictions:
- At 14: permitted to work in offices, stores, arenas, restaurants (NOT in kitchens)
- At 15: allowed in factories, repair shops, kitchens, garages, grocery stores (warehouse & delivery), laundries
- At 16: allowed in coal mines (!!) and on construction sites
- At 18: allowed underground in coal mines (!!), window washing, oil & gas rigs
British Columbia: Legal work begins at 15. Teens may begin work at 12 with parental consent. Under 15, teens CANNOT:
- Work during school hours
- Work more than 4 hours on school days
- Work more than 7 hours on non-school days
- Work more than 20 hours/week if attending school 5 days/week
- Work more than 35 hours/week even during holidays
Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island): Official work age is 16 for most jobs; limited access starts at 12. Minors CANNOT:
- Work more than 6 hours/day (in Prince Edward Island, no more than 40 hours/week)
- Work more than 3 hours on school days
- Work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (or 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. in PEI) Children under 14 are PROHIBITED from working:
- In industrial workplaces
- In forestry
- On construction sites
- In garages
- In hotels or restaurants
- In theatres, dance halls, or shooting galleries
- As elevator operators
Saskatchewan: Teens can work unrestricted from age 16 (except in hazardous industries). Teens can work at 14 with written parental consent and must complete a special "Younger Worker Readiness Certificate Course." Restrictions include:
- No work after 10 p.m. on nights before school
- No work before school on school days
- No more than 16 hours/week during the school year
Stay healthy and work safely!
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration and Refugee Consultant in Canada.
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