Federal Labour Standards

If you are a federally regulated employee or employer, the Government of Canada has established minimum standards for employment through Part III of the Canada Labour Code. To foster a positive labour environment, employers and unions are encouraged to establish more favourable rights and benefits through collective agreements, private arrangements and employer policies. Notably, union business is exempt from Code authority in areas dealing with minimum wages, annual vacations, general holidays and bereavement leave where a collective agreement provides rights and benefits as favourable as or better than the minimum standards set by the Code, and provides for third party settlement of disputes.

Federal labour standards have been safeguarding your rights and responsibilities in the workplace since 1965: the Labour Program is working in partnership with labour law experts, industry managers, unions and community representatives to review and update these standards.

• You can read the Discussion Paper on the Review of Labour Standards in the Canada Labour Code.
• You can review the 2006 findings and recommendations of the Commission for the Review of Federal Labour Standards and read their report, Fairness at Work: Federal Labour Standards for the 21st Century.
• Do you have questions about your wages, pay and deductions? We have the answers you’re looking for right here...
• Not sure how to calculate your hours of work? We can help you, whether you need to know about standard hours, overtime hours, or special circumstances such as emergency requirements.
• Have you been dismissed, terminated or laid off recently? Whether you’re an employer or an employee, you need to know how to handle the situation effectively. And if you think you’ve been a victim of unjust dismissal, we have a process in place to help you seek justice.
• There are so many reasons for taking leave from our jobs: vacations, family responsibilities, illness, bereavement and for reservists, call to duty. Find out what options are available for your specific situation.
• We all look forward to taking our statutory holidays: find out when they are and how to take advantage of them.
• Sexual harassment is illegal, and employers must do what they can to keep it out of the workplace.
• Labour standards cannot succeed in protecting worker rights without full employer compliance: learn what you need to do to comply and the steps that can be taken to enforce compliance.