News

The Ontario government has been forced to listen to temp workers. It introduced legislation on Tuesday December 9, 2008 to protect temp agency workers.



The Workers’ Action Centre and our members that work through temp agencies have been fighting for years to improve protection for temp workers. The temp legislation is an important first step in protecting temp workers. Take a look at the changes being proposed for temp workers below and you’ll see why we need to take action.



The proposed temp legislation covers most of the demands put forward by temp workers and the Workers’ Action Centre[See WAC Submission to Ministry of Labour].So you can bet that agencies and employers will do everything possible to either stop this Bill from being passed or water down its protection of temp workers. That is why we have to keep the pressure on the government to move for speedy passage of the proposed bill with its current protections (or more).



Key changes for temp workers:



Public holiday Pay – the government will move immediately to clarify that temp agency workers must get public holiday pay and termination notice or pay just like other workers.[2][2] This is a huge victory for temp workers. It means that temp workers should get the 9 days public holiday pay that other workers get. So starting with February’s Family Day public holiday, temp agency workers should be able to enjoy public holidays as a time of rest rather than a time of economic hardship.



Prohibit fees for temp work – the bill will stop temp agencies from charging fees for registering with the agency, get work assignments or any other services for job placement. So, for example, this should stop the growing practice of security companies charging fees for training for jobs that never materialize.



Reduce barriers to Permanent jobs – the bill will stop any fees or penalty on workers who are hired by the company where they are assigned. Workers can’t be required to sign a contract to stop them from seeking a permanent job with the company. But the bill would allow the agency to charge a fee if a client company hires a temp agency worker within the first six months of an assignment. The effect of this is that temp workers will have to wait 6 months before their temporary job could be converted to a permanent job with the company.



Both the client company and the temp agency will be responsible for any reprisals for workers who try and enforce their employment standards rights.  Temp workers are often left struggling to assert their rights in the triangular employment relationship that shapes temp work. This change will allow workers who are penalized for trying to enforce their rights to go after the company when it is responsible for reprisals in employment standards violations. The Ministry of Labour will also be able to go after the client company with third party orders when the temp agency refuses to pay wages.



Information about work assignments – the agency and client company must both sign information on assignments which provide workers with important info about what their assignment will be and for what wages and work schedules. Not only will this help people plan their working lives but it will assist workers in enforcing their employment standards.



Information on Employment Standards Rights – Agencies will be required to provide information on employment standards rights and enforcement procedures to all its current and future workers. Where the Ministry of Labour has translated this information, it must be provided in the first language of the agency’s employees.



To get more information go to: http://www.workersactioncentre.org

Contact: Deena Ladd 416-531-0778 ext 222 or Sonia Singh 416-531-0778 ext 221