On May 6th, 2024 the Ontario government announced the
Working for Workers Five Act, 2024, the latest addition in
a series of bills addressing pathways to skilled trades, barriers
to employment, frontline worker safety, fairness for jobseekers and
employees and health and safety in the digital age. This
announcement follows one made on May 3rd, that the Ontario
government is proposing legislative changes to the Employment
Standards Act ("ESA") that would substantially
increase the maximum fines for violating the ESA and alter
job posting obligations.
Increased Fines for Contravening the ESA
Currently, the maximum fine for an individual convicted of a
violation of the ESA is $50,000. The proposed
change would double the maximum fine to $100,000. The government
also intends to make regulatory changes to increase the fines for
offenders who have contravened the same provision of the
ESA three or more times, from $1,000 to $5,000. If passed,
this amendment would come
