The province's minimum wage hike will come into effect Jan. 1.
Many people across Ontario will see their wages rise to $14 an hour, designed to help workers and their families who are struggling to get ahead in a changing economy said a news release from the province.
The raise will affect an estimated 55 per cent of all retail workers in the province, bringing millions of people from the margins of the economy to a place where they are able to better provide for their families and get ahead, said the release.
- Other changes coming into force on January 1, 2018, include:
- Ensuring workers are entitled to at least three weeks' vacation after five years with the same employer, bringing Ontario's vacation time in line with the national average.
- Expanding the 10 days per calendar year for personal emergency leave to employees in workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, with at least two paid days per year for employees who have been employed for at least a week.
- A new domestic or sexual violence leave up to 10 individual days and up to 15 weeks of job-protected leave; the first five days of leave in every calendar year would be paid.
- Increased family medical leave from eight to 28 weeks per year.
- A new child death leave from any cause up to 104 weeks, and increased crime-related disappearance of a child leave from 52 to 104 weeks.
- Changes to make forming a union and reaching a first collective agreement easier.
"Our plan for Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs provides a minimum wage people can actually live on and modernizes our labour laws to address today’s world. Too many families struggle to get by on part-time or temporary work,” said Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour, in the press release.
“Those working full-time can be living in poverty. This is unacceptable in Ontario. Our plan will help ensure everyone who works hard has the chance to reach their full potential and share in Ontario’s prosperity."
