Ontario is preparing to prohibit unpaid trial shifts for restaurant and hospitality employees and strengthening regulations regarding wage deductions resulting from customer theft. The Labor Minister, David Piccini, is expected to unveil these new labor laws, with legislation to be introduced later in the day. Unpaid trial shifts, although already prohibited under existing laws, still occur during the interview process in some restaurants, so they will be explicitly banned. Additionally, regulations against wage deductions related to dine and dash or gas and dash incidents will be reinforced.
Current labor laws allow employers to share pooled tips if they perform similar work to their staff. The new legislation will require employers to inform employees if they are doing so. Furthermore, given the rise of digital payment apps charging workers fees to access their tips, the bill will specify that employees who receive their tips via direct deposit can choose where the money is deposited.
The new legislation contains additional changes focused on the recruitment and hiring process. Employers will be prohibited from demanding Canadian work experience in job postings or application forms, opening doors for newcomers to showcase their skills and experience. Job postings will also need to include salary ranges, and businesses must disclose if artificial intelligence is part of their hiring process to address concerns about data collection and privacy.
Additionally, the legislation will enhance payments to injured workers by allowing Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits to increase at a rate above inflation. It will also expand eligibility for WSIB benefits for firefighters and fire investigators with esophageal cancer, reducing the required years of service from 25 to an earlier stage of employment.
Furthermore, the legislation will increase the number of international students eligible for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, revise eligibility criteria for certain one-year college graduate certificate programs, and revise regulations for regulated professions to assess international qualifications through third-party organizations to improve oversight and accountability.