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.