Compliance with Act R-20 and the collective agreements

Collective agreements in the construction industry 

There are four collective agreements in the construction industry, one for each sector: Residential; Industrial; Institutional and commercial; Civil engineering and roads. Each sector is represented by an employers association responsible for negotiating labour conditions with the unions. 

The collective agreements for each sector (English version coming soon):

• Residential
• Industrial
• Institutional and Commercial 
• Civil Engineering and Roads

A printed copy of the collective agreements can be obtained from your association.

The role of the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) in the application of the collective agreements

The CCQ is responsible for overseeing the application of the collective agreements for the four sectors of the construction industry. In fulfilling this mandate, the CCQ: 

• Inspects job sites and examines the accounting books of employers. 
• Exercises, on behalf of employees, certain recourses provided for under Act R-20 and the collective agreements. 
• Interprets matters regarding the scope of application of Act R-20 and the jurisdiction of trades.
• Ensures the application of the collective agreements.
• Works to eliminate unreported work hours and collaborates on efforts to prevent and fight corruption.

Act R-20

Since 1968, in Québec, labour relations in the construction industry have been governed under a specific law, namely the Act Respecting Labour Relations, Vocational Training, and Workforce Management in the Construction Industry, commonly known as Act R-20. 

This law and the resulting regulations define, among other things, what constitutes construction work and they are used to oversee labour relations in the construction industry.

Act R-20 and its regulations are administered by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), a para-public agency funded mainly by the construction industry. The full text of the law is also available from Publications du Québec.

This law sets forth and stipulates among other things:

• The legal provisions concerning the labour relations system which divides the industry into four sectors for the purpose of negotiating the collective agreements (residential, industrial, institutional and commercial, civil engineering and roads).
• The designation of employer associations and associations representing workers designated for the purpose of negotiating the collective agreements.
• Mandatory union membership.
• The mechanisms for employer and union representation.
• The application of working conditions for all workers and employers.
• The duties and composition of the members of the CCQ, the Committee on Vocational Training in the Construction Industry (CFPIC) and the Construction Industry Social Benefits Committee (CASIC).
• The CCQ’s powers.
• Exclusions from the scope of application.
• The jurisdiction of the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT) in relation to Act R-20.  
• The negotiation process, and the content, the coming into effect and scope of the collective agreements, as well as the reaching of special agreements.
• Criminal provisions.
• The CCQ’s power to establish regulations.

Construction work governed by Act R-20

Construction work governed by Act R-20 comprises foundation, erection, maintenance, renovation, repair, alteration and demolition work for buildings and civil engineering structures, carried out on and in the vicinity of job sites, including ground preparation work.

Other work may be included within the scope of application of Act R-20 under certain conditions. The Act also provide for exclusions from this scope of application.

To learn more about labour relations and the application of Act R-20 and the collective agreements, consult the dedicated section.