Attention Federally Regulated Employers: New Rules For Interns

Federally regulated employers in the private sector should mark their calendars for September 1, 2020, when changes to the Canada Labour Code ("Code") and the new Standards for Work-Integrated Learning Activities Regulations (the "Regulations") will come into force.

These upcoming legislative changes are part of the federal government's ongoing modernization of the Code. The federal government first introduced changes to the Code that limited unpaid internships in the federally regulated private sector back in December of 2017. Almost three years later, these changes will come into force.

As of September 1, 2020, unpaid internships in the federally regulated private sector will be limited to those that are part of an educational program. The legislation refers to these internships as "work-integrated learning placements". Employers of students in work-integrated learning placements can choose to pay a student intern on a voluntary basis by way of a stipend or