Ontario Legislation Expanding Employer Accountability Re-Introduced

On October 29, 2014, Bill 18, Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014, passed Second Reading in the Ontario legislature and was referred to the Standing Committee on General Government. Bill 118, if passed, would make several changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000(“ESA”), including in relation to the indexing of the minimum wage, removing the limit on wages that can be recovered by an employee under the ESA, extending the time limit for unpaid wage recovery from six months to two years, self-audits for employers, and joint and several liability under the ESA for temporary help agencies and their clients. There would also be changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. For a more detailed review, please see our July 17, 2014 Communiqué “Ontario Legislation Expanding Employer Accountability Re-Introduced: Bill 18”