Quebec has recently adopted legislation regulating the
employment of children. The Act respecting the regulation of
work by children (the "Act") has resulted in
important amendments to Quebec's Act respecting labour
standards and its regulations, as well as the Act
respecting occupational health and safety, which are discussed
in this article.
Most notably, Quebec has now established 14 years as the minimum
working age. Prior to the adoption of the Act, the province of
Quebec had not established a minimum working age, although
legislation did provide for certain modalities surrounding work
performed by children, including the obligation to obtain written
consent from a parent or guardian ensuring that children were
performing work within their capacities which would not impede
their education, well-being or moral development, in addition to
outlining certain parameters regarding hours of work for
school-aged children.
