Paid Student Employment

Background and authority

As specified in the Student Employment Programs Participants Regulations, students are persons employed under 1 of the student employment programs established by the Treasury Board. 

The authority lies exclusively with the Treasury Board in determining and establishing student employment programs for the CPA, in consultation with the Public Service Commission.

Compensation requirements

Section 4.1.21 of the policy states that deputy heads are responsible for ensuring that students are compensated. There is only 1 exception to this requirement, when international student visa or work permit requirements preclude payment of a salary (although preference must be applied in accordance with section 4.1.4 of the directive). Furthermore, any situation where the payment of a student is not allowed under the requirements of an educational institution would not be permitted as it would be non-compliant with the policy.

Third-party compensation

As stated on the Post-secondary Co-op/Internship Program and Research Affiliate Program (RAP) websites, all Co-op/Internship and RAP placements in the Public Service of Canada are paid. In limited cases, students in receipt of grants or fellowships from third parties may hold student positions without payment from the hiring department. In the case of RAP placements, deputy heads are authorized to set a stipend or a bursary in lieu of a salary in accordance with section 2 of the Student rates of pay.

Any related questions should be directed to your organization’s Corporate HR Sector representatives. Designated senior corporate HR representatives may communicate directly, if required, with:

• the Workplace Policies and Programs Sector for eligibility interpretation queries or
• the Employee Relations and Total Compensation Sector for questions on terms and conditions of employment for students and the Student rates of pay