Just before we dive into the Topic: Can A 12 Year Old Get A Job In Canada, please let’s treat some important things. We will also look into the following sub-headings: what jobs can a 13 year old get in Canada, what jobs can i get at 14 in Canada, what job can i get at 13 in bc and where can a 13 year old work in Ontario.
A child who hasn’t reached the age of majority is considered a minor. It is interesting to note that the average age of the majority differs across Canada. Check out the table below to find out more.
| Age of Majority | Province or Territory of Canada |
| 18 | Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island |
| 19 | British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador |
Knowing what a minor is can help us identify a little child. But, it is essential to be aware of the age at which one can legally be employed in Canada.
The legal minimum age to work in Canada
Provincial laws determine the legal age of minimum working. Of course, these rules have certain exceptions. However, these rules apply to foreign nationals and local minors. The table below outlines the regional authorities. I may have missed some exemptions.
Provinces
| Province | Age of legality for work | Remarks |
| Alberta | 13 Years | Certain restrictions are in place. However, children 12 or older can participate in creative work. |
| British Columbia | 15 Years | Children between 12 and 14 can also get work. However, they must obtain written permission from their guardians or parents. |
| Manitoba | 13 Years | However, children aged 13 and 15 must take an Early Worker Readiness Certificate Course before starting work. |
| New Brunswick | 16 Years | However, employers can request a Director Employment Standards Branch for Authorization application to employ a child younger than 16 years old. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 16 years | Employing children younger than 16 is also feasible. However, it is regulated by the Labour Standards Act places some limitations on employment for children younger than 16 years old. |
| Nova Scotia | 16 Years | Of course, the children are not allowed to work. Additionally, children aged 14 and 15 can be employed at restaurants, but with certain restrictions. |
| Ontario | 14 Years | However, minors are not allowed to be employed during school hours. |
| Prince Edward Island | 16 year olds | According to the Youth Employment Act, employers are permitted to hire children who are not yet 16. However, there are several limitations. |
| Quebec | No minimum age | However, anyone under 14 years old must have their parent’s or guardians’ approval to work. |
| Saskatchewan | 16 Years | However, 14 or 15 can be used when they have parents or guardians in their favor. Additionally, they must finish the YWRCC and get the Certificate of Completion. |
Territories
| Territory | Remarks |
| Northwest Territories | There is no minimum age! However, those who are less than 17 years old require approval by an Employment Standards Officer to work between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. and during school hours. Furthermore, anyone under the age of 16 cannot work in specific fields, including construction and forestry. |
| Nunavut | No minimum age! However, hiring kids who are younger than 17 is subject to a variety of limitations. Examples include the duration of work and how you perform the work! |
| Yukon | Like the two other territories, there is no age limit! However, like other provinces and territories, there are a variety of restrictions on youth workers. |
Be aware that these tables are not officially recognized. So, it is recommended to consult your local government for the official rules.
Restrictions on minors who are citizens of other countries
As we mentioned previously, age limits apply to all minors. Furthermore, a person who is a foreign national requires a work permit to work in Canada. Thus, a minor citizen of another country can only work if they have an approved work permit. However, unlike postsecondary students, minors may not apply for a study permit for work. The process for obtaining working permits for children is similar to that of other foreign nationals.
Can a 12 Year Old Get a Job in Canada?
Alberta
In the province of Alberta, teens can be employed at 12 years old; however, only in certain circumstances that are outside of regular school hours, with the written permission of a guardian or parent, and with permission from the director of Labour Standards. Between the ages of 12-14, the teenagers are permitted to be employed in certain positions such as delivery or clerk for small goods for retail stores and also as a clerk or messenger within an office and delivery person responsible for the distribution of handbills, newspapers, or flyers. If they want to do any other work, they must have approval from the Director of Labour Standards. They are permitted to be employed on school days; however, they can only work for a maximum of two hours.
British Columbia
The law in British Columbia, children are allowed to be employed up to 12 and with the approval from the director of Labour Standards, who will decide on the terms of work. Between the ages of 12 and 14, parental consent is sufficient if the employer adheres to specific rules (no working in school during the day, for example). The province permits working during school hours, however, not longer than four hours.
Prince Edward Island,
In Prince Edward Island, It is legal to be employed up to 16. This is because the Youth Employment Act specifies, however, that a young person under 16 cannot be employed in jobs that may affect their safety, health, physical or moral development. It is also not permitted to work more than 3 hours during a school day and to perform construction work during the hours between 11 p.m. between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and during school hours (children must attend school until they reach the age of 16). The Labour Standards Inspector may excuse children from these restrictions so long as their school attendance is not affected and with the approval of a guardian or parent.
Manitoba
In the province of Manitoba, youngsters under 16 years old age can also be employed under certain conditions, such as obtaining permission from the director of Labour Standards manager, not work for a firm that is a danger to their security, health, or safety may be at risk, according to the director’s opinion and also not be employed in any job that requires a substantial portion of the cleaning and repair, or modification or maintenance work is performed using machines.
New Brunswick
In New Brunswick, young people under 14 are not allowed to work in jobs that could be harmful or unfit for their well-being, health, and moral development. The same restrictions apply to children under 16. Adolescents who are under 14 are not permitted to be employed in any industrial enterprise for forestry as well as in the construction sector, such as garages or at a service station at a hotel, restaurant, theater or dance hall, or in a shooting gallery or as elevator operators, in the absence of a permit granted by the director of Employment Standards. The work is restricted to three hours max when school is in session.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, the limitations imposed on teens younger than 14 years old are the same as those in New Brunswick, i.e., working for an industrial enterprise, forest industry, an industrial undertaking, or forestry industry, etc. They are also for those who are under 16 years old.
Nova Scotia
In Ontario, those under 14 years old cannot be employed in industrial establishments. When they reach 15 years, they are not allowed to be employed in a factory or under 16; they cannot work on construction sites, in the forestry industry, or in open-pit mining. Additionally, they are not allowed to work during school hours.
In Quebec, youngsters who are under 14 old age cannot work without the written permission of a guardian or parent if they are less than 16 years old and are not allowed to be employed in an open-pit mine or milling facility, an apprentice workshop in a profession or trade which is controlled by laws.
What Jobs Can 13 Year Old Get in Canada?
This is also applicable to people asking, what jobs can I get at 14 in Canada. So this is for you.
You can distribute newspapers or flyers to your community. The minimum age required for this is 10 years old in my community.
As I have done, you can take on the job of babysitting. It seems that there are some school classes for teenagers to be prepared for the possibility of emergencies while babysitting. This can improve your chances of finding work as a babysitter. Getting acquainted with your neighbors and letting them meet you is always a good idea.
If you are skilled in music, you might find yourself teaching make-up lessons to children in a private music school after you have achieved an exam requiring a certain amount of proficiency.
Take a look around! Someone in your vicinity may require assistance mowing grass, shoveling snow, or even setting up their computer.
Can 14 Years Old Work in Canada?
In Quebec, there is no minimum age requirement for working. However, for applicants older than 14 years old, employers must obtain parental consent for their child to work. Following the law, younger workers’ hours are subject to restrictions.
Additionally, employers cannot request someone younger than 18 to perform a task.
- It is just too much for them.
- can hinder their schooling
- May endanger their health and their physical or mental development.
School first!
In Quebec, young people must attend school until age 16. This is the law. It means your kid cannot be in class during school times:
- Up to the end of the school year, when they turn 16
- Until they receive their Secondary V diploma or an acknowledgment of vocational training acknowledged as such by Ministere de l’Education.
If one of these conditions is not met, employers cannot force young employees to stay home from school.
Sweet dreams
The students who must attend school should also be able to stay home between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. They should not be working or traveling to or from work at that time of evening.
It is the case always, regardless of the day and even during peak times. When planning their work schedules, employers should consider this in their plans and consider the place of residence of the employee as well as the time it takes to work and home.
There are some exceptions. This obligation does not apply to teenagers who:
- Send newspapers
- Babysitting occasionally
- Are involved in artistic productions (plays, films, plays, and music), dance, singing, etc.)
- Work at the summer camp or recreation center, where they are required to stay for the night and are not required to go to school the following day.
What Jobs Can a 13 Year Old Get In Alberta?
In Alberta, the province of Alberta, 13 and 14-year-olds are considered youth employees. Youth employees can perform the majority of safe tasks. There are limits on the work hours. In the food industry, they must be supervised by an adult.
Youth Employment Jobs that Do NOT require a permit:
- Retail store clerk
- Deliveries of flyers, newspapers, and handbills
- Office Clerk or Office Manager
- Delivery of small items and other items for an online store
- Tutor
- Coach for a recreation athletic club or an association
- Light janitorial service in an office setting
- Food service staff in restaurants or a place that serves food.
Jobs That Require a Permit for Youth Employment in Alberta:
Every artistic endeavor job requires authorization for youth employment(14 and below).).
- recorded entertainment
- film, radio, video, or television
- Commercials on radio and television
- voice recordings for gaming on video and computers
- the live performances, entertainment industry
- theatre plays
- music performances
What Jobs Are 13 and 14-Year-Olds NOT Allowed to Do?
The following jobs are not permitted to be performed by 13 or 14-year teenagers. The permit cannot be issued:
- construction
- jobs that require work that requires heavy lifting (anything over 10 lbs)
- working near or around propane or gasoline
- working in or near moving equipment and vehicles
- using equipment that could be hazardous working with potentially hazardous equipment, for example:
- powered equipment (power equipment, lawnmowers, line trimmers, and more.)
- Sharp objects (box cutters and Exacto knives, and more.)
- Pressure washers
- equipment that could risk burning (welding devices, blowtorches, deep fryers, grills, ovens, etc.)
- Other hazardous tools and equipment (pneumatic drills, conveyors, hammers, etc.)
What Jobs can I get at 13 in BC?
Today, B.C.’s general working age is 16 years old. However, you do not have to worry that your child is still able to be a babysitter or take the option to take a paper route. The changes to the employment standards took effect in October. 15 raises the general working age to 16 in B.C.
Today, B.C.’s general working age is 16, but do not worry about it; your child can still babysit or take a route on paper.
The changes to the employment standards took effect in October. 15 raises the general working age for B.C. between 12 and 16 years old and identifies the kinds of jobs suitable for persons under 16.
The Ministry of Labour media release states that children between 14 and 15 can perform jobs classified as “light work” with permission from parents or guardians. In certain cases, they could be allowed to work in other areas by obtaining a permit from the ministry’s Employment Standards Branch.
The new rules will not stop young people from taking care of babies or delivering newspapers on a part-time basis or students from participating in a study program or work experience class which are among the tasks that are not included in the new regulations.
Children aged 12 and over can be employed in a firm or farms owned by the immediate family member, provided that the job complies with the safety requirements in the regulations.
jobs
Some occupations now categorized as work that is light and suitable for teens aged 13-15 are:
* As a Cashier
* Will also work as a computer programmer
* As a golf caddy
- Would fit in as a Lifeguard or lifeguard assistant
* Courier or messenger
* A perfect fit for a peer counselor
* Performer
* Community or recreation participant
Referees or umpires
* salesperson, except door-to-door
The server of food and drinks that is not alcohol
Maximum age to work in Canada
Foreign employees must be at least 18 years old to obtain a work permit in Canada. There is no upper age limit for people applying for work permits unless they do so through the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.
Where can a 13 year old work in Ontario
Depending on the industry, you could work in restaurants, shops, etc. When you are older, you can work in logging, mines, etc.
In my shop, a friend hired a 14-year-old. He remained for eight years.
How old do you have to be to work at a grocery store in Canada
The opportunities for employment range from entry-level part-time jobs to full-time management careers. The minimum age requirement of 14 for entry-level positions. Managerial jobs typically require applicants to be 18 years old and possess relevant experience and high school certificates.
Cashier
The job of a cashier entails managing money, processing transactions, and assisting customers. A typical day for cashier workers includes being on the ground for extended durations and engaging with customers. Individuals who are friendly and have excellent customer service skills are often given an interview preference for SaveEasy cashier jobs over other applicants. The typical work week is 15-30 hours for cashier employees. Many grocery stores regularly begin cashiers’ work at a minimum salary. The pay increase could cause hourly wage levels of $12.00 to $13.00.
Find cashier jobs in your area.
Clerk
Clerks are employed in different departments in the various store locations. Their duties are typically contingent on the department they are assigned to. In certain cases, clerk associates are employed by several departments during a week or day. Certain tasks in the day require manual work. Candidates must be well before being able to take being hired as clerks. Pay scales start around minimum wage and grow as experience increases at $13.00 and $14.00 for an hour.
Manager
Potential employees looking for jobs with a regional grocery chain should fill out an online application form for managerial positions. The available positions include supervisors, assistants or department managers, and store managers. The primary responsibilities include conducting job interviews and training new hires, handling payroll, driving sales, placing orders for inventory, and coordinating with company corporate offices. Supermarkets require employees who have excellent leadership and organizational abilities. The ability to manage large groups of employees as well as meet goals in sales is highly desirable for managers to be able to tap into. Supervisors at SaveEasy make an average of $13.00 to $14.00 an hour, on average, at the beginning. Assistant managers earn between $35,000 to $40,000 annually in beginning salary. Starting salaries for store managers could be higher than $50,000 per year.
How many hours can a 12 year old work in Canada?
It is illegal to pay an amount of money to a person who is younger than 14 to perform work that
- is likely to be unhealthy or detrimental to the infant’s development, or normal development
- could hinder the child’s attendance at school or cause it to be difficult for the child to succeed in school.
It is illegal to pay a child less than 14 years old to perform work:
- longer than 8 hours per day
- For longer than three hours on an academic day without a certificate issued following the Education Act to let the child work
- At any period of the day when the child is in school, plus the duration of time the child is at school, totals over 8 hours
- Between 10 pm any day and 6 am the following day.
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