Protecting Our Future: Information For Young Workers
- Content Last Reviewed: June 2009
If you're starting out in the workforce in Ontario, this page will give you access to the information you need to protect your health and safety and understand your employment rights. It also has a great deal of other handy information and useful links.
Ministry of Labour Information for Young Workers
The Ministry of Labour has important information to help young people and others about to enter the workforce for the first time.
Health and Safety
- Protecting Yourself: Tips for Young Workers
Tips for Employers
- New and young workers ... Are yours ready? Ready ... Set ... Work!
- Employing Young Workers: Tips for Employers
- Employing Young Workers: Tips for Supervisors
Tips for Parents
More Information on Health and Safety
Have a safety concern about your job? You can contact the Ministry of Labour. An inspector can check the situation.
Employment Standards
The Employment Standards Act, 2000, known as the ESA, is a law that sets the minimum standards for fair workplace practices in Ontario.
General Information
- What You Should Know About the Employment Standards Act (ESA Poster)
- What Young Workers Should Know
- Your Rights at Work: Employment Standards Act
- How Are You Covered by the ESA?
- FAQs
Filing a Claim
If you think your employer is not following the ESA law and you are not attaining your rights, contact the Employment Standards Information Centre. After speaking with us, you may decide to file a claim.
More Information on Employment Standards
Volunteering
Volunteerism is a growing activity, especially for secondary school students who must complete 40 hours of community involvement activities before graduation.
Volunteers should:
- Find out about minimum ages to perform work, even volunteering, in certain types of Ontario workplaces.
- Ask lots of questions and make sure you are trained to perform your volunteer work safely.
- Ask the organization if you will have Workplace Safety & Insurance coverage if you are injured on your placement.
- Know that you are not covered by the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (e.g. hours of work, public holidays etc.)
Volunteering Resources:
Resources:
 | WorkSmartOntario is the Ministry of Labour's official website for young and new workers. Find out how to be safe at work and how to be treated fairly. www.WorkSmartOntario.gov.on.ca |
 | Passport to Safety is an innovative national health and safety on-line test, offering teens, workers 20 and over and supervisors the opportunity to test their health and safety knowledge. |
| Youngworker.ca is the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board's website for its Young Worker Awareness Program. www.youngworker.ca |
