Employment Standards Legislation in Canada

This documentation deals with private sector minimum employment standards in Canada. It sets out the federal, provincial and territorial legislative provisions dealing with the minimum age for employment, hours of work and overtime pay, minimum wages, equal pay, the weekly rest-day, general holidays with pay, annual vacations with pay, parental leave and individual and group terminations of employment. An analytical text provides readers with an overview of the topics. In most cases, tables accompany these texts and provide specific information concerning the provisions which exist in each Canadian jurisdiction.

This documentation is not intended to be a substitute for the relevant statutes themselves. Users are reminded that it is prepared for convenience only and that as such, it has no official sanction. Users are therefore advised to consult the texts of the statutes whose summary is available here.

• Recent and historic changes to employment standards legislation
  

• Jurisdiction of the federal government and the provinces/territories 
  

• Minimum Age For Employment - Child Labour Legisloation October 2006 (PDF Document, 82 kb)
  

• Database on Minimum Wages (updated on an ongoing basis)

  • Wage Deductions Permitted for Board and Lodging January 2006 
    

• Hours of Work, Overtime, Meal and Other Breaks January 2006 

  • Specific Requirements Respecting Hours of Work, Overtime, Meal and Other Breaks January 2006 (PDF Document, 33 kb)
    

• Equal Pay Legislation in Canada (PDF Document, 51kb) May 2006

  • Equal Pay Legislation in Canada by Jurisdiction (PDF Document, 45kb) May 2006 
    

• Pay Equity Legislation in Canada  (PDF Document, 131kb) July 2006

  • Pay Equity Legislation in Canada by Jurisdiction (PDF Document, 43kb) July 2006 
    

• Sunday Closing and Weekly Rest Periods: Historical Evolution and Current Situation June 2006 (PDF Document, 110kb)

  • Sunday Closing or Opening of Retail Establishments (PDF Document, 20kb) June 2006

  • Weekly Days of Rest and Sunday Work (PDF Document, 45kb) June 2006
    

• Statutory Holidays (PDF Document, 120kb) November 2001

  • Statutory Holidays: Synoptic Table November 2001 
    

• Annual Vacations with Pay (PDF Document, 44kb) April 2006

  • Minimum Requirements for Annual Vacations with Pay April 2006 (PDF Document, 49kb) 
    

• Family-related and Other Leave (PDF Document, 120kb) September 2001

  • Length of Maternity, Parental and Adoption Leave January 2006

  • Leave for Parental Reasons (PDF Document, 21kb ) February 2006

  • Compassionate Care Leave (PDF Document, 61kb) February 2007 
    

• Termination of Employment November 2005

  • Notice of Individual Termination of Employment March 2005 

  • Notice of Group Termination of Employment November 2005 (PDF Document, 85kb)
    

• Mandatory Retirement February 2008 
  

• Whistleblower Protection (PDF Document, 6kb) July 2005
  

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