The province takes its Fair Workplace, Better Jobs Act hearing to North Bay on Tuesday. The all-party committee is holding hearings across the province as it prepares to raise the minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour in 2019. Another change includes expanding personal emergency leave which would include two days wages. Labour council president Henri Giroux says unions started the process to have labour laws updated two years ago. Giroux says the government listened and included some recommendations from the labour sector. He says this is what democracy is about. However, although the council leader applauds the Ontario Liberals’ proposed changes, like increasing the minimum wage, Giroux says the proposals don’t go far enough. Giroux says labour wants the proposed Act to include emergency paid leave for low-income workers who need to look after a loved one. Giroux also says there’s no provision to stop workplace intimidation tactics when employees try to form a union and he adds labour wants to make it tougher for temporary work agencies to circumvent labour laws. Giroux says the committee members will hear from activists on what the Act should also include. Tuesday’s one-day hearing is at the Best Western and is expected to hear from a wide sector of areas.
