Page 20 - D12771 - LBMAO - Jan-Feb-2018 - REPORTER - web

a summary of bill 148

Photo by Josh Evnin

ntario’s economy, like others around the Equal pay for casual, part-time, as employees of the client who perform
Oworld, has changed. Work is different temporary and seasonal employees substantially the same work.
and, for many people, increasingly less The employer will have to respond by
secure. Many workers struggle to support What’s changing either adjusting the employee’s pay or
their families on part-time, contract or It will be mandatory for employers to giving the employee a written explanation.
minimum-wage work, and many more don’t pay:
have access to time off due to illness. Exceptions
In order to create more opportunity • casual, part-time, temporary and seasonal Employers will be exempt from the new
and security for workers in this changing employees, who are doing substantially equal pay for equal work rules for part-time,
economy, we introduced the Fair the same work as full-time/permanent temporary, casual and seasonal employees,
Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. It was employees, the same rate of pay as full- if the wage difference is based on:
passed on November 22, 2017. time/permanent employees • a seniority or merit system
This legislation makes a number of • temporary help agency employees (also
changes to both the Employment Standards known as assignment employees), who • systems that measure earnings by
quantity or quality of production
Act, 2000, the Labour Relations Act, 1995, are doing substantially the same work as • other factors (sex and employment status
and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employees of the client, the same rate of will not qualify as an exception)
including raising the minimum wage and pay as employees of the client
providing employees with the following: Casual, part-time, temporary and Temporary help agencies will be exempt
seasonal employees will be allowed to ask
Minimum wage their employer to review their rate of pay from the new equal pay for equal work rules
for temporary help agency assignment
We’ve introduced legislation to increase if they believe they’re not receiving the
the general minimum wage to $14 per hour same rate of pay as full-time/permanent employees if the difference in the rate
in pay is based on something other than
on January 1, 2018, and then to $15 on employees who perform substantially the sex, employment status or assignment
January 1, 2019. same work. employee status.
Temporary help agency employees
will also be allowed to ask their employer Comes into effect
to review their rate of pay if they believe This will come into effect on April 1,
they’re not receiving the same rate of pay 2018.

20 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2018 www.lbmao.on.ca