Working For Workers Act, 2023
The "Working for Workers Act" refers to a series of legislative changes introduced by the Ontario government in 2021, 2022, and 2023 to provide ground-breaking protections for workers in Ontario, Canada.
The Ontario government is proposing the Working for Workers Act, 2023, to provide even greater protections for workers in Ontario. This includes expanded job-protected leave for military reservists, increased fines for employers who violate occupational health and safety regulations, and improved access to information for new employees. The government is also taking steps to remove barriers for women in the construction sector, make it easier for firefighters to access compensation, and prepare students for skilled trades apprenticeships.
If passed, this new legislation will:
Making job-protected leave for military reservists the most flexible and comprehensive in Canada
Increasing the maximum fine for corporations convicted under the Occupational Health and Safety Act from $1.5 million to $2 million
Requiring employers to provide employees with job information before their first shift
Including remote employees in mass termination provisions
Strengthening protections for temporary foreign workers
Advancing international credential recognition for internationally trained professionals
Introducing new regulatory amendments to make the skilled trades more accessible to women
Expanding presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters to include thyroid and pancreatic cancers
Allowing Grade 11 students to transition to a full-time skilled trades apprenticeship program