Labor Laws in Canada
- Canadian labor laws protect employee health and safety.o' canada image by Kathryn Palmer from Fotolia.com
In addition to provincial law, there are labor laws in Canada that apply at the federal level. Knowing labor laws in Canada is important for employers and employees alike. Employees will find that the first step toward ensuring that their rights are being honored is to be aware of them. Employers will want to avoid costly infractions of federal law. - Industrial relations laws in Canada oversee collective bargaining between workers and bosses. Canadian law provides for two basic freedoms for Canadians in the workplace. The first is that employees may join the union of their choosing and engage in any lawful activities associated with that union. The second freedom involves employers, who may also join any employers organization and engage in its lawful activities.
Canada has an Industrial Relations Board that mediates industrial disputes. Members of this board may not receive payment for any other employment. Members are appointed by the Governor in Council. The board must consist of equal numbers of representatives of labor and capital. - The Canada Labour Code includes provisions that protect the health and safety of workers on the job. The bedrock of Canadian health and safety law are three fundamental rights. First, employees have the right to refuse to perform dangerous tasks at work, without fear of reprisal in the form of termination or other disciplinary actions. Employees further have the right to information about any existing or potential workplace hazards. Finally, Canadian employees have the right to participate in occupational health and safety commissions jointly with employers--as well as to act as labor representatives on the matter of health and safety.
- Wage and hour laws are set by individual provinces and territories. However, there are laws common throughout the country. Canadian employers are generally required to inform employees of their schedule in advance, with a 24-hour notice of all shift changes. Most provinces require that employees receive a 30-minute meal break for every five hours worked.
A workweek is generally defined as 40 hours per week. If a workweek falls on a holiday week, a workweek includes the number of hours an employee would have worked on that holiday. For example, on a week with one holiday falling on a Monday, employees would be paid overtime for all hours worked over 32 hours. Overtime rates are generally one-and-a-half times the employee's regular wage, though they may be as low as one-and-a-half times the minimum wage.
