The British Columbia government recently implemented changes to
the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations
Code. These changes have important implications for both
unionized and non-unionized workers. This bulletin provides an
overview of some of the significant changes.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACT
The Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2019
("Bill 8") received Royal Assent on May
30, 2019. The following amendments to the Employment Standards
Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 113
("ESA") are now in force.
1. Child Employment Protections (Sections 9 and 9.1 of the
ESA)
i. Minimum age raised to 16, with exceptions
Bill 8 raises the minimum age that a child can work from 12
years old to 16 years old. There are, however, certain exceptions
including the ability of a child under the age of 14 to work with
the permission of the Director of Employment Standards
("Director"). A further exemption
permits 14 or 15 year-olds to carry out "light work" with
the written
