Ontario’s minimum wage will go up to $15 an hour, according to Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Wynne made the announcement on Tuesday morning while discussing labour reforms in Ontario.
The province is also increasing the minimum paid vacation from two weeks annually to three for all workers with five or more years with the same employer.
“The economy has changed. Work has changed. It’s time our laws and protections for workers changed too,” said Wynne in a statement. “Too many families are struggling to get by on part-time or contract work and unstable employment. And no one working full time in Ontario should live in poverty. With these changes, every worker in Ontario will be treated fairly, paid a living wage and have the opportunities they deserve.”
Wynne said that the government is moving forward with a landmark package of measures, and that includes the following:
- Raising Ontario’s minimum wage to $14 per hour on January 1, 2018, and then to $15 on January 1, 2019, followed by annual increases at the rate of inflation
- Mandating equal pay for part-time, temporary, casual and seasonal employees doing the same job as full-time employees; and equal pay for temporary help agency employees doing the same job as permanent employees at the agencies’ client companies
- Expanding personal emergency leave to include an across-the-board minimum of at least two paid days per year for all workers
- Bringing Ontario’s vacation time into line with the national average by ensuring at least three weeks’ vacation after five years with a company
- Making employee scheduling fairer, including requiring employees to be paid for three hours of work if their shift is cancelled within 48 hours of its scheduled start time.
“These changes will ensure every hard-working Ontarian has the chance to reach their full potential and share in Ontario’s prosperity,” said Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn. “Fairness and decency must be the defining values of our workplaces.”
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