It's about allowing our young people to work, without jeopardizing their education.

     Beginning in January, new legislation will see the minimum age required to work in hotels, restaurants, hospitals, educational facilities, and nursing homes drop from 16 to 15.

     At the same time, those 15-year-old workers will not be allowed to work for more than 16 hours per week, and the changes will be subject to a review in May.

     With no current restrictions on a minimum age in other provincial sectors, the province has also announced that they will look at setting an absolute minimum age for employment in the new year.