Working for Workers Six Act
| Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Legislative Assembly of Ontario | |
| |
| Citation | S.O. 2024, c. 41 |
| Royal assent | 2024-12-19 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill citation | Bill 229 |
| Introduced by | David Piccini MPP, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development |
| First reading | 2024-11-27 |
| Second reading | 2024-12-11 |
| Third reading | 2024-12-22 |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The Working For Workers Six Act, 2024 (French: Loi de 2024 visant à oeuvrer pour les travailleurs, six) is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario relating to labour rights.
Provisions
The act invests up to CA$1,400,000,000 in training more than one million workers through the Skills Development Fund.[1] The act also outlines new standards for immigration representatives.[1]
The legislation amends the Employment Standards Act (ESA), so that employees who have worked for a given employer for 13 consecutive weeks are allowed to take 27 weeks of unpaid illness leave within a 52-week period.[2]
The act introduces a significant mandatory fine for a second or subsequent offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).[3]
The act imposes a requirement for properly fitting personal protective equipment to. be provided to women across all sectors, building on a similar requirement on the construction industry in the Working for Workers Act, 2023.[4]
The legislation requires that employees who become parents through adoption or surrogacy be entitled to 16 weeks of unpaid parental leave.[4]
The provincial Chief Prevention Officer is assigned additional powers including the ability to assess whether a training program delivered outside of Ontario is equivalent to one approved under OHSA.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Sixth Working for Workers Act receives royal assent in Ontario". HR Law Canada. December 23, 2024. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Erum, Muzna (April 23, 2025). "Ontario's long-term illness leaves rules take effect soon". Human Resources Director. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Keith, Norm (December 18, 2024). "Mandatory minimum OHSA fines coming to Ontario". OHS Canada Magazine. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ a b Zaman, Nadia (January 10, 2025). "New changes in effect (again) for employers, employees". Canadian HR Reporter. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ Cunningham, Carl (December 4, 2024). "Working for Workers Six Act, 2024: More Changes on the Horizon for Ontario's Employment-Related Legislation". JD Supra. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2025.