The Ministry of Labour & Small Business Owners
As an employer, it is important to understand the function and purpose of the Ministry of Labour as well as how the laws supervised by the Ministry affect your business.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour
The Ministry of Labour is a department within the government of Ontario responsible for overseeing, promoting, and regulating labour relations in the province.
It is responsible for promoting and enforcing two major legislations:
- The Employment Standards Act (ESA)
- The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
The Employment Standards Act (ESA) for Employers
The ESA is an important resource for employers to understand what is legal in operating a business. In the Act, employers will find the minimum employment standards for:
- Hours of Work
- Wages and Overtime Pay
- Minimum Wage
- Equal Pay for Equal Work
- Pregnancy and Parental Leave
- Leaves of Absence
- Benefit Plans
- Public Holidays
- Vacation Time and Pay
- Termination and Severance of Employment
- Temporary Layoffs
- Liabilities
- Complaints and Enforcement
- Offences and Prosecution
- Temporary Help Agencies
Understanding the ESA is critical in developing compliant contracts of employment and employee handbooks. All workers covered by the ESA must receive a copy of the Ministry of Labour’s ESA Poster, which sets out their rights under the legislation.
The ESA may be difficult to understand, but your business must know the regulations that affect it as well as your rights and obligations as an employer. We can help you with this.
Do you know how the Ontario Ministry of Labour impacts your business?
Ask Employer Line’s HR experts any employment-related questions on our FREE employer advice line. We can help you understand your obligations under the Ontario ESA and the role played by the Ministry of Labour in Ontario. Our experts will ensure your policies and procedures are up to date and compliant with the law. Call us today at 1-833-247-3650.