Social Policy in Ontario

Reducing poverty at work

Posted on December 20, 2007 in Debates, Social Security Debates

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TheStar.com – comment – Reducing poverty at work
December 20, 2007

Temp workers seek holiday pay – Dec. 18

This article points out that temp-agency workers don’t get statutory holiday pay. Part of the problem is that these workers are not clearly covered under Ontario’s outdated Employment Standards Act, so they have no recourse when unfairly treated by employers.

There are now more than 4,200 temp agencies in Canada, with the majority in Ontario. Campaign 2000’s research shows that low wages and poor working conditions are part of the reason behind high child and family poverty rates in our province.

Let’s hope that the new poverty reduction strategy promised by the province includes expanding Ontario’s labour laws so that temp workers are protected and receive equal treatment in pay and employment benefits, like all other workers under provincial labour law.

Jacquie Maund, Co-ordinator, Ontario Campaign 2000, Toronto

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