Standards, working conditions and unions

The job market is governed by laws and regulations that protect workers and seek to maintain harmonious working relations. Working conditions can be established by collective agreements, work contracts, orders in council or laws.

Minimum working conditions
Vacation
Wages
Paid statutory holidays
Unions

Minimum working conditions

The Act respecting Labour standards in Québec, sets out the minimum working conditions, particularly minimum wages, vacation, paid statutory holidays as well as absences and leaves for family or parental reasons, the rules employees must follow in the event of termination of employment or dismissal, etc.

Vaction

The right to paid vacation is gradually acquired over a period of 12 consecutive months. This period, called the reference year, is determined by the employer or by law. A worker who, at the end of the reference year, has provided one year of continuous service with the same employer during this period is entitled to an annual vacation of a minimum of two consecutive weeks.

Wages

Wages are usually paid each week or every two weeks. No benefit having a monetary value (car, housing, transportation, etc.) can be used to justify paying a worker less than minimum wage.

Minimum wage rates—for regular employees, employees receiving tips and employees working on commission or on a piecework basis—are determined by the Government of Québec and are subject to change.

Paid statutory holidays

• January 1 (New Year’s Day)
• Good Friday or Easter Monday, determined by the employer
• the Monday preceding May 25 (National Patriots Day)
• June 24 (Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Québec’s national holiday) or, if this date falls on a Sunday, June 25
• July 1 (Confederation, Canada Day) or, if this date falls on a Sunday, July 2
• the first Monday in September (Labour Day)
• the second Monday in October (Thanksgiving)
• December 25 (Christmas)

Unions

Québec law recognizes the right of all workers to belong to a union. If a workplace is already unionized, you are free to choose whether or not you wish to become a member. However, the Québec Labour Code requires your employer to deduct union dues from your wages, regardless of whether or not you are a union member.

	USEFUL INFORMATION
	Once an employer recognizes an employee association, working conditions could be governed by a collective agreement.

Useful links

• Commission des normes du travail (CNT)
  The CNT is responsible for applying the Act respecting Labour standards.
• Commission des relations du travail
  Information on labour relations, unions and collective agreements.