What age can you start working in quebec?
Short answer
In Quebec, the general minimum age to work has been 14 since June 1, 2023. Below 14, work is allowed only in the exceptional cases provided for by law, and the employer must then obtain the written consent of the person having parental authority or of the tutor, on the form established by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards, health and safety board).
In detail
Since September 1st, 2023, the law also limits hours. A person under 16 cannot work more than 17 hours a week during the school year, of which a maximum of 10 hours from Monday to Friday. Those limits do not apply during the summer period or during periods when there are no classes.
A child subject to compulsory school attendance cannot work during class hours. The employer must also make sure that the hours of work allow the child to be at the family residence between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., subject to exceptions.
These rules are in addition to the general standards — minimum wage, breaks, weekly rest — which apply to minors as well.
What to document
The actual weekly schedule, the school calendar, the parental consent form where applicable, and the pay stubs. The weekly hour total, compared with the school calendar, is what gets checked.
Put your facts in writing, free. Writing your version down early, keeping your documents dated and preparing your questions for a lawyer: the tool is there to document, never to advise.
Open the application Up to 3 files, no card · see the plans
Official sources
- Act respecting labour standards (CQLR, c. N-1.1) — Légis Québec
- Gouvernement du Québec — Act respecting the regulation of work by children
- Protecteur du citoyen — Working at 14 years old: what is legal?
Related questions
- Do the labour standards apply if i am a manager?
- What is uninterrupted service and how is it calculated?
- How long do i have to file a complaint with the cnesst?
- What is the minimum wage in quebec in 2026?
- My employer did not pay my hours what can i do?
See all the answers · the full guide collection · Lire en français
What this page is not
This is general legal information about the law of Quebec and Canada, dated and sourced. It is not legal advice, not a strategy, and not a prediction about the outcome of a case. In Quebec, only lawyers and notaries may give legal advice (Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, ss. 128 and 133). Laws and amounts change: the official source always prevails over us.