What Employers Need to Know About the Legal Age to Work in Ontario | Knit People Small Business Blog (2024)

f you run a business that employs a lot of young people, you need to know the legal age to work in Ontario. While most people will tell you that the minimum legal age for working in the province is 14 years of age, this isn’t actually true for all industries and workplaces.

According to the Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000, there isn’t actually a minimum age for work in Ontario. Instead, the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act has outlined minimum age requirements for different industries and workplaces.

With no universal minimum legal age for work across all workplaces in Ontario, it’s no surprise that there has been some confusion among employers. So to help you navigate this tricky part of the Ontario labour laws, we’ve created a quick reference guide to the legal age to work in Ontario. In this guide, we’ll cover:

  • The minimum legal age to work for different types of industries and workplaces
  • Other restrictions on the age of workers in Ontario
  • The minimum age to visit certain Ontario workplaces

Whether you operate an ice cream truck or an automotive garage, this guide will explain everything you need to know about the legal age to work in Ontario.

What is the Minimum Legal Age to Work in Ontario?

For most types of work, the minimum age to work in Ontario is 14 years of age. Just like any other employee in the province, these young employees are entitled to minimum wage (though the rate is different for some students under 18), holiday pay, and up to three days of unpaid job-protected sick leave each calendar year.

However, as mentioned above, the legal age for working in Ontario does vary by industry and workplace. This is because some jobs are riskier or require a more specialized skill set. As a result, some industries like construction and mining require employees to be older than 14 years of age.

The Minimum Ages for Different Types of Workplaces in Ontario

For the following industries and workplace, the minimum legal age to work in Ontario is outlined below:

While these guidelines are fairly straightforward for some workplaces, the rules are a little trickier for others.

For example, the kitchen area of a restaurant would be considered a factory, which means that the minimum legal age for working is 15 years old. However, operating a cash register at the front of the restaurant would be considered a retail job, which means the minimum legal age to work is just 14 years old.

It’s also important to note that some employers set their own policies for the minimum wage for work. For instance, you might be able to legally hire 16 year olds to work at your company, but you might put a policy in place that requires employees to be at least 18 or older.

Other Restrictions on the Age of Workers in Ontario

While age requirements are one aspect of minimum age to work in Ontario, it’s also important to account for the educational obligations of those under 18.

Aside from certain exceptions, Ontario’s Education Act states that children must attend school until the age of 18 and that employers are prohibited from employing children younger than 16 during school hours. In other words, someone who is 15 years old may be legally able to work in your pizza shop, but not at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday when school is in session.

There are some exceptions to this rule, such as those excused from school attendance under Ontario Regulation 374/10 of the Education Act., “Supervised Alternative Learning and Other Excusals from Attendance at School."

What is the Minimum Age to Visit Ontario Workplaces?

The minimum legal age to work in Ontario is one thing, but did you know there is also a minimum legal age just to visit certain workplaces in the province?

That’s right, according to the Regulation for Industrial Establishments made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, visitors to the following types of workplaces must meet certain age requirements:

Industry or Workplace Legal Minimum Age to Work
Underground mines 18 years of age
Mining plant or surface mine 16 years of age
Window cleaning 18 years of age
Construction and logging operations 16 years of age
Factories operations and repair shops 15 years of age
Stores, offices, and arenas 14 years of age
Type of Workplace Legal Minimum Age to Visit
Underground mines 16 years of age (unless they are part of a tour or visit and are accompanied by and under the direction of a guide)
Mining plant or surface mine 16 years of age (unless they are part of a tour or visit and are accompanied by and under the direction of a guide)
Working face of a surface mine 16 years of age (unless they are part of a tour or visit and are accompanied by and under the direction of a guide)
Construction project 16 years of age (if work is being performed there)

Persons younger than the specified age may visit, but not work in the above establishments as long as they are:

  • Are accompanied by a person who has reached the age of majority (18 years of age);
  • are part of a guided tour of the industrial establishment; or
  • are in an area of the industrial establishment that’s either used for sales purposes or is an area that the public generally has access to.

When it comes to the legal age to work in Ontario, the rules are pretty straightforward for most industries. And as long as you follow the guidelines for your specific industry and ensure that any workers under the age of 16 aren’t employed during school hours, you’ll be in full compliance with the Ontario labour laws.

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What Employers Need to Know About the Legal Age to Work in Ontario | Knit People Small Business Blog (2024)

FAQs

What Employers Need to Know About the Legal Age to Work in Ontario | Knit People Small Business Blog? ›

For most types of work, the minimum age to work in Ontario is 14 years of age.

What is the legal age of working in Ontario? ›

While the usual minimum age for working is 14 , it still depends on the industry and workplace, according to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act. Here are a few other stipulations: Youths 14 and older can work in offices, stores, arenas, or restaurant serving areas, but not during school hours until age 16.

What is the legal age in Ontario? ›

The age of majority is 18 in six provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

Can you work at McDonald's at 14 in Ontario? ›

You have to be at least 14 years old in Ontario. 14.25 an hour.

Can 14 year olds work in Canada? ›

At what age can young people start working? All young people 13, 14 or 15 years of age must complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course, and obtain a Certificate of Completion that is signed by their parent/guardian before they can work.

What is the 3-hour rule in Ontario? ›

What is the 3-hour rule in Ontario? Under the 3-hour rule, if an employee is required by the employer to come into work for less than three hours, the employer must pay the employee for 3 hours at minimum.

Can a 14 year old work at Walmart in Ontario? ›

As a minimum age requirement, you must be at least 16 years old to work at Walmart and 18 at Sam's Club. Certain positions, however, require a minimum age of 18. As you prepare to complete your application have your prior work history available.

Can a 30 year old date a 16 year old in Canada? ›

You can be charged with a sexual offence for sexual activity with a minor under 16 years of age. In Canada, there is no prohibition against dating a minor who is sixteen years old or younger, provided that the date does not involve any sexual activity.

Can a 30 year old date a 16 year old? ›

If a dating relationship with a minor involves sexual conduct, it can be illegal. The ages of the couple and the state's age of consent will determine whether it is a crime, or not. If it is, the offense is generally statutory rape.

Can a 22 year old date a 16 year old in Ontario? ›

Canada's age of consent

The age of consent to sexual activity is 16 years. In some cases, the age of consent is higher (for example, when there is a relationship of trust, authority or dependency). In other words, a person must be at least 16 years old to be able to legally agree to sexual activity.

What age can you start working? ›

Generally, if you're under 13, you can only get a job in special circ*mstances. Once you reach the age of 13, you can do light work. This means that you can't do any job that may affect your health and safety or interfere with your education. You can, for example, do a paper round.

How old do you have to be to work at Tim Hortons in Canada? ›

The minimum age to start work at Tim Hortons is 16.

What is the youngest age to start working at mcdonalds? ›

How Old Do You Have To Work At McDonald's? If you're considering applying for McDonald's, you must be 14 or older.

What is the legal age to leave a child home alone in Ontario? ›

However, in two provinces (Manitoba and New Brunswick), the welfare Acts state that a parent cannot leave a child under the age of 12 unattended without making provision for adequate supervision. In Ontario, the statutory limit is 16 years.

What age does Starbucks hire in Canada? ›

Minimum age is 16 to work in a Starbucks in ontario Canada.

Can you work at Subway at 14 in Canada? ›

Canada, in all its maple syrupy goodness, has a minimum age for employment that varies by province. In most provinces, you gotta be at least 16 years old to work most jobs, including those glorious sub-slinging gigs at Subway.

Can a 15 year old get Ontario Works? ›

In most cases you need to be 18 or older to qualify for Ontario Works Assistance in your own name. However, if you are 16 or 17 years old, you may be able to apply for Ontario Works benefits from Employment & Social Services under special circ*mstances.

What is the minimum wage for a 15 year old in Ontario? ›

Ontario student minimum wage rate

The current student minimum wage in Ontario will increase to $15.60 per hour on October 1, 2023 from $14.60 per hour. Students who work more than 28 hours a week when school is in session are entitled to the general minimum wage.

What is the lowest legal age to work? ›

As a general rule, the FLSA sets 14 years old as the minimum age for employment, and limits the number of hours worked by minors under the age of 16.

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