Canada: with the 2017 labor law reform, Ontario has taken its first step on the road towards fairer workplaces

In May 2017, following two years of detailed examination of Ontario’s changing workplaces, both special advisers C. Michael Mitchell and John C. Murray that Labor Minister Kevin Flynn tasked with producing a report presented their findings in the 419 page ‘Changing Workplaces Review’ (the Report*), making it now one of the province’s biggest studies in over a decade. Just six months later Ontario’s government adopted Bill 148 Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017**, which implements several of the Report’s recommendations aimed at tackling growing levels of insecurity being experienced by employees who are having to deal with precarious employment. The new law makes sweeping revisions to the Employment Standards Act 2000 so as to make them fit the new working  environment and it also amendments the Law on labour relations. Urwana Coiquanud, Labour Law Professor at the HEC Montreal HR Management Department details the changes for Planet Labor.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.
  • Significant changes to the minimum employment standards

A significant increase in minimum hourly pay. The most important change is the sizeable rise in the minimum hourly pay rate. From January 2019, the minimum hourly rate will be C$15, much ahead of the pre-January 2018 rate of C$11.60 and the post-January 2018 rate of C$14. Thus over the course of the two years the minimum rate will have risen by 31%. Following these significant increases the law intends for an annual inflation linked adju

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: Crédit Agricole signs first independent agreement on disability
On 8 December, French banking group Crédit Agricole and three of the four representative trade unions (CFE-CGC, CFDT and FO) in France signed a disability agreement for the period...
Norway: role of labour inspectorate strengthened to prevent sick leave
On 8 January, the Norwegian government issued a 2026 letter of assignment to the labour inspectorate, signalling an intention to strengthen its enforcement activity. The main objective of the...
9 January 2026
Czech Republic: employers required to contribute to retirement savings for employees in high-risk occupations
Since 1 January 2026, Czech employers have been required to contribute to the retirement savings of employees in occupations classified as high-risk (known as ‘category three’) due to...
8 January 2026
Spain: government wants 3.1% minimum wage hike
Spain's ministry of labour has informed the social partners of its intention to raise the minimum wage to €1,221 gross per month. This increase is expected to be approved by the Council of...
8 January 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
2
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
3
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 2026