Complaint calls from workers to the Employment Standards office doubles since the new legislation providing better pay and benefits to employees.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

March 13, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The number of Ontario workers contacting the Minister of Labour’s Employment Standards hotline to ask about the minimum wage has doubled since the rate was increased to $14 an hour on January 1, 2018.

ESA logoData from the Ministry of Labour shows the total number of calls specifically about the minimum wage more than doubled in January 2018 — after the new minimum wage took effect — compared to January of last year.

In January 2018, the Employment Standards Contact Centre answered to a total of 26,704 calls, a 60% increase from the previous month, December 2017, when 16,742 calls were received.

The number of calls in January 2018 was 26,704, an increase of 29% over the 20,633 January 2017 calls.
In a media release the Ministry of Labour said: “The increase in calls to the Employment Standards line demonstrates that the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act is having its intended effect and that there is a need for government to stand up for workers who are not receiving the fair treatment now mandated by law under Bill 148.

That legislation became law in November and brought in improvements for workers including:

Ministry of Labour: Employment Standards in Ontario

Employment Standards in Ontario

A plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour on January 1, 2019

Up to 17 weeks leave after a worker or their child has survived domestic or sexual violence, with the first five days being paid days of leave

Ten days of personal emergency leave per calendar year for all workers, including two paid days

A required three weeks annual paid vacation for all workers who have been with the same employer for five or more years

Equal pay for part-time workers who do the same job as full-time workers.

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1 comment to Complaint calls from workers to the Employment Standards office doubles since the new legislation providing better pay and benefits to employees.

  • Townhouse Living

    Your headline specifically states ‘Complaint, however nothing in the body alludes to these being complaint calls. Did the number of complaints actually double, or are these just general inquiry calls?