Employment Standards

The Ministry of Labour's Employment Standards Program administers and enforces the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). The ESA sets out the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers in Ontario and covers a range of subjects including:

• Minimum wage
• Vacation with pay
• Public holidays
• Equal pay for equal work
• Termination and severance of employment
• Hours of work and overtime
• Emergency leave
• Family Medical leave
• Rights of employees in retail business establishments to refuse to work on a Sunday or other holiday.

The ESA, or parts of it, apply to most employers and employees in Ontario. For more information including how to file a claim, please contact your local ServiceOntario or Government Information Centre, the Employment Standards Information Centre at (416) 326-7160, toll-free at 1-800-531-5551 or visit the Ministry of Labour website.

Pay Equity

Pay equity is equal pay for work of equal value. The Pay Equity Act requires all employers in Ontario with 10 or more employees to establish and maintain pay equity. The Pay Equity Office provides free education seminars and publications and provides dispute-resolution services to employers, employees and bargaining agents. Where necessary, the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal will hear cases and make a final and binding determination on all questions of fact or law related to the Act.
Toll-free line: 1-800-387-8813
E-mail: pecinfo@gov.on.ca
Seminar E-mail: pecseminars@gov.on.ca

Occupational Health and Safety Program

Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors inspect workplaces and investigate complaints about unsafe work practices. These complaints can be made anonymously. The inspectors will issue orders where they find violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations. The Act sets out the rights and responsibilities of everyone in the workplace -- the employer, the supervisor and the worker. When a health-and-safety concern cannot be resolved internally, contact the nearest Ministry of Labour office listed in the blue pages of the phone book. For more information about specific hazards, visit this Web site: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs

Women's Centres

Women's Centres are community based organizations dedicated to providing services and programs for women of all ages. There are over 20 Centres across Ontario. The Ontario Association of Women's Centres is a network for dialogue and collaborations among Women's Centres across the province.