Ontario Implements New Worker Protection Legislation

The Ontario government has announced that the fifth iteration of the Working for Workers Act has received Royal Assent. This legislative package aims to address various aspects of employment and worker protection in the province.

Key components of the Act include:

• Support for Firefighters: The Act reduces the required duration of service for firefighters to qualify for presumptive Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage for primary-site skin cancer from 20 years to 10 years. It also extends coverage for occupational cancers, heart injuries, and PTSD to wildland firefighters, aligning their benefits with those of municipal firefighters.
• Women's Workplace Support: Measures are introduced to encourage women to enter the trades, including the provision of menstrual products on larger construction sites and requirements for clean and sanitary washrooms across all workplaces.
• Employer Accountability: The Act increases fines for violations of the Employment Standards Act and mandates that employers disclose the existence of job vacancies in public postings. It also requires timely responses to interviewees.
• Sick Leave Policy: The legislation prohibits the requirement of sick notes for entitlement to three job-protected unpaid sick-leave days.

These changes build upon previous Working for Workers Acts, which have been implemented since 2021, aiming to enhance worker protections and employment conditions across Ontario.