Labour Laws for Teens (Ages 14–17)

If you're between 14 and 17 and looking for work in Ontario, here's what the law says about your rights on the job. All of this comes from the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Regulation 491/06.

Who Can Work (Ages 14–17)

You need to be at least 14 years old to work in most jobs in Ontario. Jobbli focuses on opportunities for teens aged 14 to 17.

While Ontario law does not require parental consent for teens to work, many employers ask for it as a company policy. It's a good idea to let your parents know about your job.

Hours and Scheduling (Ages 14–17)

Ontario's Employment Standards Act sets limits on working hours:

Maximum 8 hours per day or the number of hours in your established work day (whichever is greater).
Maximum 48 hours per week unless you agree in writing to work more.
Your employer cannot force you to work more than these limits.

If you're 14 or 15: You cannot work during school hours on any school day. This includes regular classes and exam periods. All shifts must be outside school hours.

If you're 16 or 17: There are no school-hour restrictions, but balancing work and school is still important. Many employers limit late-night shifts for teen workers.

Jobs You Cannot Do (Ages 14–17)

Ontario law restricts certain types of work for teens:

Your Age	Jobs You Cannot Do
14	Factory work, construction, logging, mining
15	Logging, surface mining, construction
16–17	Underground mining, hazardous work environments

Common jobs for teens aged 14–17 include retail, food service, tutoring, babysitting, lawn care, and office work.

Minimum Wage (Ages 14–17)

As a student under 18, you qualify for the student minimum wage of $16.60 per hour if:

You work 28 hours or less per week during the school year, OR
You work during a school break or summer holiday

If you work more than 28 hours per week while school is in session, you must be paid the general minimum wage of $17.60 per hour.

Tip: Minimum wage rates in Ontario are updated every October 1st. Check ontario.ca/minimumwage for the most current rates.

Breaks and Time Off

You get a 30-minute eating break for every 5 consecutive hours you work. This break is unpaid unless your employer agrees otherwise.
You must have at least 11 hours off between each working day.
You must have at least 8 hours off between shifts.
You are entitled to at least one full day off each work week (or two consecutive days off every two weeks).

Vacation Pay

Even as a teen worker, you earn vacation pay. Here's how it works:

You earn 4% vacation pay on all wages earned during your first 5 years with an employer.
After 5 years with the same employer, this increases to 6%.
Vacation pay must be paid out when you take vacation, or when you leave the job.
Your employer cannot withhold your vacation pay for any reason.

Public Holidays

Ontario has 9 public holidays. If you qualify, you get the day off with pay or premium pay if you work:

New Year's Day
Family Day (third Monday in February)
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
Boxing Day

To qualify for public holiday pay, you must work your scheduled shift before and after the holiday (unless you have a reasonable excuse).

Your Rights (Ages 14–17)

As a teen worker in Ontario, you have the same rights as adult employees:

Pay stubs: Your employer must give you a pay statement each pay period showing hours worked, wage rate, deductions, and net pay.
Regular pay: You must be paid on a regular pay day, at least twice per month (some exceptions apply).
No illegal deductions: Employers cannot deduct money from your pay for cash shortages, breakage, or customer walkouts unless you agree in writing.
Termination notice: If you've worked for more than 3 months, your employer must give you at least 1 week's notice (or pay instead) before letting you go.
No discrimination: You cannot be treated unfairly because of age, race, gender, disability, or other protected grounds.

Health and Safety

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, you have the right to:

Know about hazards in your workplace and receive proper training.
Participate in keeping your workplace safe.
Refuse work that you believe is dangerous to yourself or others.

Your employer must provide safety training, protective equipment if needed, and a workplace free from harassment and violence.

Filing a Complaint

If your employer is not following the law, you can file a complaint with the Ontario Ministry of Labour:

Call the Employment Standards Information Centre at 1-800-531-5551.
File a claim online at ontario.ca/employmentstandards.
You have 2 years from when the issue happened to file a claim.

It is illegal for your employer to punish you or fire you for asking about your rights or filing a complaint.

This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. For the full legislation, refer to the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (S.O. 2000, c. 41) and O. Reg. 491/06. Visit ontario.ca/labour for more details.