Rights for workers under 18 in Canada: hours, breaks, night work and the jobs you cannot do yet

If you are under 18, your province adds extra limits on top of the normal employment rules: a cap on hours during school weeks, a time of night after which you cannot work, and a list of dangerous jobs closed to you until 16 or 18. Here are the verified highlights for the largest provinces, plus when to call employment standards.

You must be paid at least minimum wage for every hour worked, including training. You get a pay stub showing each deduction, a meal break after a set stretch of work, and the right to refuse unsafe work without punishment. Youth rules add three things: school-week hour caps, night cut-offs and barred workplaces.

Ontario

Ontario sets minimum ages by workplace: 14 for offices, stores, arenas and restaurant serving areas; 15 for factories, including restaurant kitchens and warehouses; 16 for construction and logging; 18 for underground mines and window cleaning. Under 16 you cannot work during school hours except in limited cases.

There is no youth-specific hour cap, so the general limits apply: 8 hours a day and 48 a week unless you agree in writing to more, at least 11 consecutive hours off every day, and a 30 minute eating period so you never work more than five hours in a row. The 11 hour rest rule cannot be waived: closing at 11 pm and opening at 7 am is not allowed.

Alberta

At 13 and 14 you can do a short list of jobs without a permit (retail or office clerk, deliveries, flyers, light janitorial work, tutoring, limited food service). You cannot work between 9 pm and 6 am or during school hours, and you are limited to 2 hours on a school day and 8 on a non-school day.

At 15 to 17 no permit is needed. In retail and hospitality you can work between 9 pm and midnight only with an adult supervising, and never between 12:01 am and 6 am. The general break rule applies at every age: one 30 minute break, paid or unpaid, for any shift of 5 to 10 hours.

British Columbia

BC's general minimum age is 16. At 14 and 15 you can do light work with written parental consent; anything beyond light work needs a permit from the Director of Employment Standards. Under 15 you are capped at 4 hours on a school day, 7 on a non-school day, 20 hours in a school week and 35 when school is out. Under 16 you cannot work in construction, silviculture or forest firefighting; under 18 you cannot do tree falling, chainsaw, power line or confined space work. Every young worker must be supervised by someone 19 or older.

Quebec

The minimum working age is 14, with exceptions such as babysitting and newspaper delivery. If you are under 16 and still required to attend school, you are limited to 17 hours a week, no more than 10 of them Monday to Friday, and you must be able to be in class during school hours and at home between 11 pm and 6 am. The cap lifts during school breaks longer than 7 consecutive days. Most Quebec workplaces expect you to speak French.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia

Sources: Manitoba young workers fact sheet, Saskatchewan minimum age and workplace restrictions, Nova Scotia employment of children.

Our minimum working age by province guide covers the rest.

Why dangerous jobs step up to 16 and 18

Every province fences off the same work. Mining, logging, confined spaces, meat processing and anything involving respirators or radiation are closed until 18; construction sites and forklifts typically until 16. Several provinces keep deep fryers and slicers away from the youngest band. An employer who puts a 15 year old on a construction site is breaking the law, not giving you a chance.

When to call employment standards

Call or file online when any of these happen and your manager does not fix it once you raise it:

• You are scheduled past your night cut-off or over your school-week cap.
• Shifts of 5 hours or more pass with no break.
• Pay is late, below minimum wage, or missing hours.
• Money is deducted for uniforms or till shortages without your written agreement.
• You lose hours or your job right after asking about any of this.

Every province runs a free employment standards line; Manitoba's, for example, is 204-945-3352. Search "employment standards" plus your province. Write down dates and shift times, keep stubs and schedule screenshots, and know that retaliation for filing is itself a violation. You do not need a lawyer.

Browse live youth jobs on YouthBoard (free, wages shown on every listing).

Every listing shows the wage, so a sub-minimum offer is visible before you apply. Our guide to landing a first job with no experience, the free Resume Builder and the Campus Atlas cover the application side.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can a 16 year old work in Canada?

At 16 most provincial youth caps lift and general limits apply. In Ontario that is 8 hours a day and 48 a week unless you agree in writing to more, with 11 hours off between shifts. Quebec still caps you at 17 hours a week while you are required to attend school.

Can a 15 year old work past 10 pm?

It depends on the province. In Alberta a 15 year old in retail or hospitality can work until midnight with adult supervision. Saskatchewan bars 14 and 15 year olds from working after 10 pm before a school day. Quebec requires school-age workers under 16 to be home by 11 pm.

Do minors get breaks at work in Canada?

Yes, under the same enforceable rules as adults. Ontario requires a 30 minute eating period so you never work more than five hours straight. Alberta requires a 30 minute break for any shift of 5 to 10 hours. Breaks can be unpaid unless your employer restricts what you do.

What jobs can you not do under 18 in Canada?

Across provinces, underground mining, logging and tree falling, asbestos, silica or radiation work, confined spaces and work needing a respirator are closed until 18. Under 16, construction sites, forestry, forklifts and meat processing plants are also off limits in most provinces.

Sources

• Ontario: Minimum age for work
• Ontario: Employment Standards Act guide, hours of work
• Alberta: Youth employment laws
• British Columbia: Hiring young people
• CNESST: A young person's school attendance and work schedule

Disclaimer

This article is general information for young job seekers, not legal, financial or employment advice. Minimum wages, minimum working ages, hours limits and program rules change, often on April 1 or October 1, and they differ by province and territory. Always confirm the current rules with your provincial or territorial government, the employment standards office, or the relevant federal department before relying on them. YouthBoard makes every effort to keep articles accurate, but they may contain errors or be out of date, and we accept no liability for any loss or decision made based on this content. If you spot something wrong, tell us and we will fix it.