The Workers’ Action Centre (WAC), with Parkdale Community Legal Services, has released “Building Decent Jobs From the Ground Up” – a comprehensive response to the Changing Workplaces Review Special Advisors’ interim report.
In addition to a detailed analysis of the options proposed by the Special Advisors, the WAC/Parkdale report provides specific recommendations on the sweeping changes needed for Ontario’s labour laws (Employment Standards Act & Labour Relations Act) to more effectively address low waged and precarious work conditions.
Assignment workers and the WSIB
Among those recommendations, one that regulation require the WSIB to assign injury and accident costs to client companies rather than the temporary help agency. Although the 2014 Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act (Bill 18) originally included a statutory amendment to have experience rating premium costs borne by the client company, this was removed at the committee stage and replaced by a provision giving the government authorization to make regulations on this issue. To date no action has been taken.
Make your opinion known
WAC notes that the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and Ontario Federation of Labour will also soon be issuing their responses. They call on organizations and individuals to send their comments on the Changing Workplaces Review‘s proposed options to the Special Advisors before the Oct. 14 deadline – a sample letter can be downloaded from workersactioncentre.org.