The Labour Code sets both daily and weekly maximums to protect workers from excessive hours.
The standard week
A standard workweek is up to 48 hours, typically structured as 40 hours over five days.
The Labour Code specifies a 36-hour workweek for civil servants, making the public sector somewhat less demanding in contracted hours.
Overtime
Overtime is paid at time and a half under the Labour Code.
Rest periods
The Code sets rest period requirements alongside the hour limits.
Minimum wage
Set by the Employment Standards (Minimum Wage) Order. The minimum wage may vary depending on the industry and job function, so the applicable rate is not necessarily a single national figure.
Confirm the rate for your sector with the Labour Department.
Written contracts are mandatory
The Labour Code mandates written contracts detailing terms including leave, hours and probation.
If you have been working without anything in writing, that is a compliance failure, not a normal arrangement.
Record-keeping
Employers must maintain employment records for each employee — contracts, wage records, leave taken, disciplinary actions and termination documentation.
These must be available for inspection and retained for at least three years after employment ends.
Worth knowing: the Department of Labour can request documentation during inspections, and missing records create presumptions in favour of employee claims.
Anti-discrimination
The Labour Code prohibits discrimination in employment on grounds including race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion and national origin.
Enforcement is through the Labour Department or the Industrial Court.
Health and safety
Employers are responsible for safe workplace conditions including PPE, sanitation, ventilation and emergency readiness.
Child labour
The Code prohibits the employment of children and restricts the employment of young persons, with registers required and penalties for false certificates as to age.