in Quebec, children are employees almost like the others

In Quebec, there is no minimum age to work, only those under 14 must have written authorization from their parents. Children under 16 must not work during school hours and from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. At 11, Amanda Parent works fifteen hours a week, for around 740 euros per month. Half of the employees of Pascal Lamarche, owner of the restaurant “La grande gueule”, are minors. He claims not to impose anything on young people.

Other companies would have abused, as pointed out by Marwah, Rizqy, MP (Liberal Party) for Saint-Laurent, who is asking the Quebec government for more control, while nearly half of 15-18 year olds work. “It is clear that for a child who spends more than ten hours at work, there is an impact on his academic success. We see his energy decrease“, explains Éric Racine, director general of the Val-des-Cerfs school service.