Understanding the Evolving Laws Governing Youth Work: Key Points and Changes to Ensure Health and Safety

Workplaces have evolved, as have the requirements related to caring for the health and safety of workers. To adapt to these new realities, changes have been made to the laws governing youth work. Discover the main points.

Whether at a restaurant, at the local convenience store or at the supermarket, one observation is obvious: we are seeing more and more young people on the job market.

It is in this context that the Labor Standards Act (LNT) was modified on 1^is June 2023 by Law on the supervision of child laborin order to better supervise their work and encourage their academic perseverance.

These new standards are in addition to those established by the LNT, which concern all workplaces and all employees in Quebec, regardless of their age, status or origin.

Whether you are a young worker, a person who works alongside young people who work or an employer who hires young people, you benefit from finding out about the new legislative provisions concerning child labor.

Labor standards for young people: the changes made

Does your 13-year-old want to start looking for a job to finance the purchase of a games console? If we can only admire his sense of autonomy, he may have to be patient.

In fact, from now on, the LNT prohibits an employer from hiring young people under the age of 14, with the exception of cases provided for in the Regulation respecting labor standards. If the job he wishes to occupy is part of an exception, his employer must obtain your written consent by means of the form established by the CNESST.

The schedules of young people required to attend school: take note of the arrangements

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If you employ young people who are required to attend school, be aware that their working hours are also regulated by law. Since 1^is September 2023, you are required to limit their schedule to 17 hours per week, including a maximum of 10 hours from Monday to Friday.

The work schedule must also allow students to be in class during class hours. In addition, they cannot work a shift at night, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day.

This new framework aims to promote the pursuit of studies for young employees and their development at work.

Occupational health and safety: particularities for young people

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Given the maturity of many young workers, it may be quite natural to want to entrust them with the same tasks as older workers.

However, we must keep in mind that they are particularly at risk of having a work accident; particularly because they have high job mobility and often find themselves in a “new worker” position. In doing so, they are less familiar with the working methods and environment, as well as the risks they entail.

Since 1^is June 2023, workplaces have new obligations regarding the work of young people, in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS).

This is why the employer is required in particular, with the participation of the health and safety committee (CSS), to identify, control and eliminate risks that may particularly affect the health and safety of workers aged 16 years and younger.

He must also adequately inform young workers about the risks related to their work and provide them with appropriate training, training and supervision to ensure that young workers have the skill and knowledge required to perform safely. the work entrusted to them.

You are not sure if your situation complies with the law? Find more information on the provisions of the LNT and LSST on this page Web.

The CNESST has also developed several practical resources to better guide the entire population on the job market, such as a calculation toola application mobilefrom online formation as well as webinars on labor standards.

Remember that the law is there to protect all workers in Quebec. To find out more about the rights and obligations arising from the Labor Standards Act, consult the CNESST website.