Bettina Burgess
Associée
Article
6
On November 14, 2023, the Ontario government proposed further legislative changes as part of its "Working for Workers" legislation package.
Bill 149, entitled Working for Workers Four Act, 2023, if enacted, will bring about significant changes to Ontario's Employment Standards Act, 2000, among other statutes, particularly impacting employers in the restaurant and hospitality industries.
We have detailed the proposed changes below.
It remains unclear as to the true impact that the proposed changes to employee wage and salary deductions and withholdings will have. As it currently stands, section 13(1) of the Employment Standards Act, 2000[1] prohibits employers from deducting or withholding an employee's wages or causing the employee to return wages in certain scenarios:
Deductions, etc.
13 (1) An employer shall not withhold wages payable to an employee, make a deduction from an employee's wages or cause the employee to return his or her wages to the employer unless authorized to do so under this section.
Further, even though the proposed prohibition on requiring Canadian experience does not remove the consideration of such experience, employers must be reminded of the Ontario Human Rights Commission's policy regarding Canadian work experience. The Commission is of the view that requiring Canadian work experience is prima facie discrimination and, as such, employers must proceed with caution as to their obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code.[2]
Proposed changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997[3] include:
Please also see our previous posting on further proposed legislative changes impacting Ontario employers.
The proposed legislative changes have passed the Second Reading Stage but have not been assented into law. Gowling WLG's Employment, Labour & Equalities Group will continue to monitor these developments closely. In the meantime, please contact any members of the Employment, Labour & Equalities Group.
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