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ARTICLE · 04 OCTOBER 2017

Bill 148: Proposed Changes To The Employment Standards Act

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Employers will be required to pay their employees equal pay for equal work regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal or casual.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Andrea Marsland
Andrea Marsland
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On June 1, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill 148: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, which proposes significant changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the "ESA") and the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 ("OLRA"). On September 12, 2017, the Second Reading of the Bill commenced and the debates continue to date. Below are some of the key changes being proposed to the ESA.

  • Minimum Wage Increase: The general minimum wage rate in the province of Ontario will increase to $14.00 per hour as of January 1, 2018, and then to $15.00 per hour as of January 1, 2019. Subsequently, it will increase on October 1st of each year, from 2019 onwards, to account for inflation.

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