Working' 9 To 5, But Not Making A Living: The Legality Of Unpaid Internships, Work Experience Programs & Trainee Programs

Many young individuals across the country participate in internships, which are utilized by employers in many industries, and which are seen by many individuals as an opportunity to gain valuable experience. An area of particular interest, and possible pitfalls, relates to internship programs that involve unpaid interns. Although every jurisdiction in Canada has legislation that permits interns in some circumstances to perform work without compensation, in many parts of the country these situations are limited and these limitations should be noted carefully by employers. Simply calling a position an "internship" will not – in and of itself – be enough to permit an employer to utilize unpaid interns, and the rights of workers in this regard cannot be simply waived or avoided by agreement between employer and employee.