Step backward in labour laws

Ontario's 700,000 temporary workers – the poorest, most insecure members of the labour force were jubilant when Premier Dalton McGuinty included them in his poverty strategy.

Fifteen months ago, the McGuinty government beefed up provincial employment standards, guaranteeing temp workers the right to holiday, severance and termination pay. The government also pledged to spend $10 million hiring new enforcement officers to protect precarious workers.

Now the temporary workers feel as if their victory is being snatched away, as the government proposes to “modernize” the Employment Standards Act. Under new rules, workers would be required to confront their boss about unpaid wages, overtime or other breaches of the law before filing a claim with the labor ministry.

Read the full article on the Toronto Star

Bill 68: Workers forced to settle for less

Changes to Employment Standards under Bill 68 = More Barriers for Workers

Under Bill 68, Open for Business, the government is introducing changes to Employment Standards that are a huge step backward for workers. Instead of cracking down on bad bosses, Bill 68 will create more barriers for workers, while making it easier for employers to avoid paying what they are required to by law.

Mandatory self-enforcement of ESA rights :

• Bill 68 would require most workers to try and enforce their ESA rights with their boss before filing a claim.
  

Facilitated settlements:

• Bill 68 would give the power to the Ministry to settle claims for less than what workers are owed under the law.
  

Required information before a claim will be accepted:

• Bill 68 would require workers to provide information about their employer and arguments about their case before a claim will be accepted, without a commitment to provide support to workers filing claims.
  

Go the Workers' Action Centre to see how you can take Action.