Employment and working in Quebec

In Quebec, several government departments and agencies are involved in the employment and labor sector

The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Solidarity offers services to employed and unemployed persons as well as to businesses, notably through Emploi-Québec and its network of local employment centers.
The Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor (treasury board secretariat) recruits government employees through public tenders and manages negotiations with the union group for collective agreements for these individuals.
The Secrétariat du travail (labor secretariat) supports companies and workers in matters of labor relations and labor legislation.

Government measures

The Quebec government has implemented programs and measures to support employed or unemployed people and businesses, to support people who want to enter the labor market and people who want to develop their skills. They also aim to support employers in the new realities of the labor market. For information on the labor market, visit the Emploi-Québec website.

The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan offers income replacement benefits to eligible parents upon the birth or adoption of their child, thus helping to create a healthy work-family balance.

Workforce development

The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Solidarity is primarily responsible for various areas affecting employment and the workforce. The Ministry interacts with national, regional and local partners, and community organizations active in the field of employment and the fight against poverty.

Emploi-Québec

Emploi-Québec reports to the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, and is responsible for developing employment and the workforce, and combating unemployment, poverty and exclusion. Emploi-Québec also supports businesses in human resource management and work organization.

Working conditions and labor relations

Through its interventions and programs, the Labor Secretariat is responsible for the application of the main laws and regulations in the field of employment and labor.

In Quebec, the determination of working conditions must comply with various standards, including those provided for in the Act respecting labor standards.

They can also be negotiated in two ways:

through individual agreements resulting in a contract in accordance with the Civil Code.
through collective bargaining between union and employer parties leading to the conclusion of a collective agreement in accordance with the Labor Code.

The Labor Secretariat intervenes to make the results of a negotiation applicable to third parties who did not participate in negotiations. The Ministère then applies the Act respecting collective agreement decrees (chapter D-2). The Labor Secretariat also provides specialized labor relations services to employers and unions.

The Minister is responsible for the application of the Act respecting the ministère du travail (chapter M-32.2) and of several other laws.