The Ontario government introduced the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 on November 27, 2024. Its intention is to build on the previous five Working for Workers acts that have been previousy tabled and passed, in order to protect the health and safety of Ontario workers.
If passed, several changes would take place but here are some of the important ones for employers to note:
The new Safe Business Bonus with an additional $1000 for eligible employers who create a new workplace health and safety action plan. This plan must be approved through the WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program.
New parental leave for parents under the Employment Standards Act for adoptive and surrogate parents.
Explicitly requiring properly-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) for women, and all workers with diverse body shapes.
Mandatory minimum fines of $500,000 for corporations convicted of repeat offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act which resulted in the death or serious injury of one or more workers. Repeat offences must be within a two-year period.
This mandatory minimum fine would assist in holding accountable health and safety "bad actors" like National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ontario which has been convicted of 2 workplace fatalities and one serious injury since 2023.
"I'm telling you, a fatality cannot be the cost of doing business." Said Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini.
The province's proposed 16-week job-protected parental leave would allow adoptive and surrogate parents "adequate time to meet the demands of the adoption or surrogacy process, attach and welcome their child into their new home."
The WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program helps make workplaces safer while allowing employers to reduce their premium costs. According to the WSIB, "The program makes it easier for you to get the support you need to make lasting health and safety improvements in your workplace." Businesses may be eligible to receive an extra $1000 when they create a new health and safety action plan.
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