In Ontario, when employing young workers or employees under 25 years old, employers must adhere to the laws regarding youth employment.
The legal working age in Canada (and Ontario) is 14 for most types of work. This comes with limits employers and employees must follow to ensure employee safety and well-being.
Below, I discuss Ontario’s legal working age, the minimum wage and other restrictions for young workers.
What is the Legal Working Age in Ontario?
In Ontario and Canada, the minimum mandated age to start working is 14 years old. Sometimes, this would depend on the industry and workplace. Employers may also have their own policies for minimum age in the workplace.
Young workers in Ontario have the same rights under the Employment Standards Act 2000 as other employees. Employment agreements with children should meet the following:
- Minimum wage
- Minimum daily pay
- Breaks
- Overtime
Children under 15 years old must not be required to work under these circumstances:
- During school hours
- More than 4 hours on school days
- More than 7 hours on non-school days
- More than 20 hours in a week with five school days
- More than 35 hours a week when school is out
OHSA: Minimum Working Age by Industry
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Ontario’s legislation for workplace health and safety, sets the minimum working age for various types of work and workplaces.
| Minimum Working Age | Type of Work/Workplace |
| At least 19 years old | Shaft attendant for a shaft where a hoist is being used on a construction project |
| At least 18 years | -In an underground mine or at the working face of a surface mine -In window cleaning -Offshore on or from an oil or gas rig |
| At least 16 years old | -A mining plant or surface mine, excluding the working face -Construction, excluding the role of shaft attendant for a shaft where a hoist is being used -A logging operation |
| At least 15 years old | Factories, other than a logging operation, such as: -Manufacturing or assembly plants -Repair shops -Restaurant kitchens -Automotive service garages -Produce and meat preparation in grocery stores -Shipping and receiving areas in grocery stores -Laundries (such as in a public hospital or a hotel) -Warehouses |
| At least 14 years old | Other industrial establishments, such as: -Offices -Stores -Arenas -Restaurant serving areas |
Can a 13-Year-Old Work in Ontario?
There are limited exceptions for those under the minimum age to work. In Ontario, a 13-year-old can only work in jobs such as delivering newspapers, rendering lawn care services or babysitting.
Even with these exceptions, some restrictions apply to ensure safety, which include:
- Requirement to seek parents’ consent
- The number of working hours
- The type of work allowed
- The maximum number of work hours per week
Can a 14-Year-Old Work in Ontario?
As the minimum age to work in Ontario is 14, more employment opportunities are available but come with some conditions, such as working only in an industry regarded as safe for young workers.
As per OHSA guidelines, 14-year-old children can get work in industrial establishments like offices, stores, arenas and restaurant-serving areas.
As with other employees in Ontario, these young workers must receive minimum wage, daily pay, minimum wage, minimum daily pay, breaks and overtime.
Where Can a 15-Year-Old Work in Ontario?
According to OHSA, a 15-year-old worker is allowed to work in factories (other than a logging operation), including:
- Manufacturing or assembly plants
- Repair shops
- Restaurant kitchens
- Automotive service garages
- Produce and meat preparation in grocery stores
- Shipping and receiving areas in grocery stores
- Laundries (such as in a public hospital or a hotel)
- Warehouses
How Late Can a 16-Year-Old Work in Ontario?
Ontario’s Education Act states that children must attend school until they are 18. The province’s labour laws also require young employees attending school to be able to be home between 11 PM and 6 AM the next day.
Legal Working Age in Canada vs Ontario
As previously stated, the legal working age in Canada and Ontario for most types of work is 14, with certain limitations.
While 14 is the legal working age in Ontario, it varies by industry and workplace. The reason is that some jobs are more dangerous or require employees to have more specialized skill sets.
Canada’s minimum age limit is in place to protect the safety, health and general well-being of children who enter employment at an early age.
Minimum Wage in Ontario
The minimum wage in Ontario and Canada is the lowest rate an employer can pay full-time and part-time employees. Young workers are entitled to receive at least the minimum wage regardless of how they are paid:
- hourly
- salary
- commission
- flat rate
- piece rate
Ontario follows different minimum wage rates:
- General minimum wage rate – Applies to most employees
- Student minimum wage rate – Applies to students under the age of 18 who:
- Work no more than 28 hours a week when school is in session
- Work during a school holiday (including summer holidays and breaks during the academic year)
Minimum wage rates
The following are the minimum wages to work in Ontario:
- Rates from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023
- General minimum wage – $15.50 per hour
- Student minimum wage – $14.60 per hour
- Rates from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024
- General minimum wage – $16.55 per hour
- Student minimum wage – $15.60 per hour
Employers must pay their student employees aged 17 and younger the student minimum wage when the young workers:
- Render work 28 hours or less in a week while school is in session, or
- When they work during school breaks.
Young workers aged 18 and older are entitled to the general minimum wage.
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