Scope of application – hours of work provisions - IPG-101

Effective date: September 1, 2019

Revised date: January 18, 2023

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Subject

This Interpretations, Policies and Guidelines (IPG) outlines the scope of application of certain hours of work provisions from September 1, 2019 until the coming into force of the second phase of the Exemptions from and Modifications to Hours of Work Provisions Regulations (Regulations). The Regulations either exempt classes of employees from certain hours of work provisions or modify the provisions for the purpose of application to certain classes of employees. The purpose of this IPG is to outline the scope of application of sections 169.1, 169.2, 173.01, 173.1 in Division I of Part III (Labour Standards) of the Canada Labour Code (Code) to certain classes of employees, listed in the Schedule, in various industrial sectors.

Note: “employees” also includes “interns”. Student interns are subject to the interpretation of this IPG.

The first phase of the Regulations came into force on February 1, 2022. That phase covered the following sectors:

  • road transportation
  • postal and courier
  • marine
  • grain

The second phase of the Regulations will cover the following sectors (Phase 2 sectors):

  • rail transportation
  • air transportation
  • banking
  • telecommunications and broadcasting

This IPG will continue to apply to Phase 2 sectors until such time as the proposed Regulations come into force.

Issue

The following hours of work provisions have been added to the Code:

  • break – 169.1
  • rest period – 169.2
  • notice – work schedule – 173.01
  • shift changes – 173.1

It is necessary to provide a consistent interpretation of the scope of application of certain hours of work provisions until the coming into force of the second phase of the Regulations. This IPG addresses the following:

  • the scope of application of the above noted hours of work provisions
  • classes of employees subject to this interpretation
  • how non-monetary complaints pertaining to one of the 4 above-mentioned sectors will be handled by the Labour Program until the second phase of Regulations come into force

Interpretation

The policy intent of the hours of work provisions is that they:

  • be applied in conjunction with regulatory exemptions for classes of employees to which the provisions cannot reasonably be applied
  • be modified, by way of regulation, where their application would be unduly prejudicial to the interests of certain classes of employees or seriously detrimental to the operation of the industrial establishment

In light of this policy intent, until the second phase of the Regulations is in place, employers may carry on business as usual with respect to the job titles in continuous operations and associated provisions identified in the Schedule. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is for reference purposes only. This interpretation is limited to the following provisions:

  • break – 169.1
  • rest periods – 169.2
  • notice – work schedule – 173.01
  • shift changes – 173.1

In order to facilitate the application of this interpretation, the job titles and associated provisions have been listed in the Schedule by sectors that were not part of the first phase of the Regulations:

  • telecommunications
  • broadcasting
  • air transportation
  • airports
  • rail transportation

This interpretation is not designed to deny employees their right to file a complaint. Any employee who is of the view that their employer has contravened the Code may file a complaint with the Labour Program. When a complaint related to one or more hours of work provisions and a job title identified in the Schedule is received, the Labour Program will investigate to determine whether the complaint is founded and may issue:

  • an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), or
  • take other compliance measures up to and including an administrative monetary penalty, as applicable

The Labour Program will work with the employer while progress continues on the development of the second phase of the Regulations.

Disclosure

This interpretation applies exclusively to the specific job titles listed in the Schedule. This interpretation is not a guarantee that the same classes of employees will be the subject of exemption or modification in the second phase of the Regulations. The regulatory process is independent of this IPG.

Once the second phase of the Regulations comes into force, this IPG will no longer be in effect.

Schedule - Job titles subject to IPG 101

*The schedule indicates whether an exception was granted.

Telecommunications
Job title 30-minute break 8-hour rest period 24 hours’ notice of shift change 96 hours’ notice of work schedule NOC
  • Electronics engineering technologist
  • Fiber optics technician
  • Fiber optics technologist
  • Electrical technician
  • Communications technologist
  • Radio frequency technologist
No Yes Yes No 2241
  • Computer network technician
  • Web site administrator
No Yes Yes No 2281
  • Technical support analyst – systems
  • User support technician
No Yes Yes No 2282
  • Business office service representative – telecommunications
  • Complaints clerk – customer service
  • Client service clerk
No Yes No No 6552
  • Electrician (except industrial and power system)
No Yes Yes No 7241
  • Communication line technician
  • Access technician – telecommunication
No Yes Yes No 7245
  • Telecommunications equipment technician
  • Installation and repair technician – telecommunications
No Yes Yes No 7246
  • Cable television installer
  • Cable television maintenance technician
No Yes Yes No 7247
  • Electrical mechanic
  • Switchgear repair electrical mechanic
No Yes Yes No 7333
Broadcasting
Job title 30-minute break 8-hour rest period 24 hours’ notice of shift change 96 hours’ notice of work schedule NOC
  • Anchor
  • News reporter
  • News writer
  • News editor
  • Photojournalist
  • Video journalist
No Yes Yes No 5123
  • Camera operator – news
  • Electronic news gathering camera operator
  • Electronic field production camera operator
No Yes Yes No 5222
  • Broadcast technician – news
  • Broadcast transmitter operator – news
  • Broadcasting switcher - news
  • Master control room (MCR) equipment operator – broadcasting – news
  • Mobile broadcasting equipment operator – news
  • Regional transmitter technician- news
  • Short-wave receiving station technician – news
  • Video transmission operator – news
  • Engineering technician - news
No Yes Yes No 5224
  • Electronic news gathering (ENG) editor
  • Public address (P.A.) system operator- news
  • Audio operator- news
  • Sound engineer - news
No Yes Yes No 5225
  • Lighting technicians
No Yes Yes No 5226
  • News reader
  • Radio host - news
No Yes Yes No 5231
Air transportation
Job title 30-minute break 8-hour rest period 24 hours’ notice of shift change 96 hours’ notice of work schedule NOC
  • Flight scheduler- aeronautics
  • Flight crew scheduler
  • Flight operating agents
Yes No Yes Yes 1526
  • Aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) – avionics
  • Avionics maintenance technician
Yes No Yes Yes 2244
  • Air pilot
  • Helicopter pilot
Yes No Yes Yes 2271
  • Flight dispatcher
  • Air traffic controller
Yes No Yes No 2272
  • Flight attendant
Yes No Yes Yes 6522
  • Customer sales agent – airline
  • Customer service agent – airline
  • Load control agent- airline
  • Airline cargo agent
  • Passenger service agent- airline
  • Certified load control agent
Yes No Yes Yes 6523
  • Aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) (except avionics)
  • Aircraft mechanic
  • Aircraft maintenance mechanic;
  • Aircraft technicians
Yes No Yes Yes 7315
  • Ramp agent – air transport
  • Ramp attendant – air transport
  • Ramp station attendant- air transport
  • Aircraft refuelers
  • Baggage loader- air transport
  • Turn around crew
  • Baggage service agent - air transport
  • Ground service equipment mechanic
  • Cargo attendant - air transport;
  • Aircraft groomer
Yes No Yes Yes 7534
  • Food and beverage services attendant
Yes No Yes Yes 6711
Airports
Job title 30- minute break 8-hour rest period 24 hours’ notice of shift change 96 hours’ notice of work schedule NOC
  • Airfield operations and emergency response specialist
  • Airfield operations specialist with emergency response responsibilities
Yes Yes Yes Yes 2272
  • Airport fire department chief
Yes Yes Yes Yes 0432
  • Airport firefighter
Yes Yes Yes Yes 4312
  • Heavy duty mechanics for maintenance and repair of emergency or snow removal vehicles at airports
Yes Yes Yes Yes 7312
Rail transportation
Job title 30-minute break 8-hour rest period 24 hours’ notice of shift change 96 hours’ notice of work schedule NOC
  • Service employees on board trains
  • Service manager
  • Service coordinator
  • Assistant service coordinator
  • Activity coordinator
  • Learning coordinator
  • Senior service attendant
Yes Yes Yes No n/a
  • Signal and communications coordinator - railway
Yes Yes Yes No n/a
  • Intermodal clerk - railway
Yes Yes Yes No n/a
  • Welder inspector - railway
Yes Yes Yes No n/a
  • Crew dispatcher - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 1526
  • Signal engineer - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 2133
  • Railway technician
Yes Yes Yes No 2231
  • Rail traffic controller
Yes Yes Yes No 2275
  • Railway police constable
  • Railway police officer
  • Railway police sergeant – all except commissioned
Yes Yes Yes No 4311
  • Locomotive fireman
Yes Yes Yes No 4312
  • Onboard railway cook
Yes Yes Yes No 6322
  • Train baggageman
Yes Yes Yes No 6721
  • Welder foreman - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7201
  • Tinsmith - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7233
  • Steel bridge worker - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7235
  • Flash butt welder – railway
  • Thermite welder – railway
  • Welder - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7237
  • Electrician - railway
  • Railway signal maintainer
Yes Yes Yes No 7242
  • Plumber - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7251
  • Pipefitter - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7252
  • Carpenter - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7271
  • Brick and stone mason - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7281
  • Lead mechanic - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7301
  • Railway gang foreman;
  • Railway track maintenance foreman;
  • Freight loading foreman - railway;
  • Loading dock foreman – railway.
Yes Yes Yes No 7302
  • Mechanic - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7312
  • Rail car mechanic
Yes Yes Yes No 7314
  • Locomotive engineer – railway
  • Hostler - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7361
  • Conductor – railway yard
  • Brakeman - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7362
  • Crane operator - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7371
  • Driller – railway
  • Blaster - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7372
  • Railway car loader/unloader
Yes Yes Yes No 7452
  • Heavy equipment operator
Yes Yes Yes No 7521
  • Yardman
  • Yardman - railway
  • Car retarder operator
  • Switchtender
Yes Yes Yes No 7531 running trades
  • Yardmaster - railway
  • Assistant yardmaster - railway
  • Yard foreman - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7304
  • Railway trackman
  • Railway track maintenance worker
  • Snowplow operator – railway
  • Extra gang labourer - railway
  • Machine operator – railway
  • Grinder operator – railway
  • Locomotive attendant
  • Railway equipment operator
  • Trackmobile operator – railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7531 non-running trades
  • Bridge labourer - railway
  • Bridge gang worker – railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7611
  • Track greaser – railway
  • Rail lubricator
  • Signal and communications worker – railway
Yes Yes Yes No 7622
  • Painter - railway
Yes Yes Yes No 9536

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