Protecting Our Future: Information For Young Workers

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.

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.

www.passporttosafety.com

Youngworker.ca is the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board's website for its Young Worker Awareness Program.

www.youngworker.ca

Do You Know...

Minister's Action Group on Vulnerable Workers Under the Age of 25 presents report

In July 2006, the Action Group on Vulnerable Youth was formed, with the Honourable Steve Peters, Minister of Labour, as chair. Membership on the group included young people, youth culture experts, youth labour market experts, youth safety practitioners and business representatives. Together, they worked on recommending approaches that would provide practical solutions to preventing injuries.

The Action Group met five times between September, 2006 and May 2007 and presented eight recommendations under two categories:

Protecting our people by making sure vulnerable youth have the information and resources they need to recognize unsafe situations and have the confidence to say no to unsafe work
Improving safety in workplaces that employ vulnerable youth.

Next Steps

The recommendations will now be addressed by the Ministry of Labour in consultation and collaboration with its partners.

Final Report: Minister's Action Group on Vulnerable Workers Under the Age of 25
News Release
Backgrounder

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

Beware of Heat Stress

Protecting Yourself: Tips for Young Workers
Tips for Employers
Tips for Parents
- Your Teen at Work: 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

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.