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ARTICLE · 21 MAY 2018

Ontario Passes Fair Wage Legislation To Protect Certain Workers On Government Contracts

Miller Thomson
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On May 8, 2018, the Government Contract Wages Act, 2018 (the "Act") received Royal Assent.

CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
David Tsai
David Tsai
Michael Cleveland
Michael Cleveland
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Introduction

On May 8, 2018, the Government Contract Wages Act, 2018 (the "Act") received Royal Assent. The newly passed legislation allows Ontario to establish minimum rates of pay for people working in construction, building cleaning, and security services jobs under contracts with the government. Private sector contractors and subcontractors will be required to pay according to those rates.

The Act – passed on the final sitting day of the Ontario legislature before the June election – updates the Ontario government's Fair Wage Policy for the first time since 1995. It builds on the historic actions that Ontario has already taken to create more opportunity and security for workers through the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017.

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