Quebec law protecting interns would be ‘historic advance,’ labor minister says

Adopted in principle Tuesday, the legislation addresses such issues as short-term leaves and psychological and sexual harassment.

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Proposed legislation that would provide legal protections for interns employed in Quebec workplaces was adopted in principle Tuesday afternoon and seems well on its way to becoming law.

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Tabled by Quebec Labor Minister Jean Boulet, the legislation is aimed at providing further protection to the 195,000 interns working in the province. It addresses such issues as short-term leaves and psychological and sexual harassment, and provides for solutions or remedial measures where appropriate.

The legislation covers internships required to obtain a certificate to practice issued by a professional order or as part of a professional secondary, collegiate or university training program offered by an educational institution.

During its adoption in principle Tuesday afternoon, Boulet described the legislation as “one more step toward a historic advance for the rights and protections” of workplace interns.

The Union étudiante du Québec and the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec were happy with the legislation, although they had called for it to cover long-term absences such as maternity leaves.