CCI Toronto News

Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2023 and proposed Amendments to the Employment Standards Act

Bill 149, Working for Workers Four Act, 2023, was tabled on November 14, 2023, with the second reading on November 23, 2023.   If passed as drafted, it would make a number of changes to the ESA, including the following:

• Canadian Experience. Employers would be prohibited from including any requirements related to “Canadian experience” in publicly advertised job postings or application forms.
• Pay Transparency. Employers would be required to disclose salary ranges in publicly advertised job postings
• Artificial Intelligence. Employers would be required to disclose in publicly advertised job postings whether they will use artificial intelligence to screen, assess or select applicants for the position.

The contemplated amendments to the ESA would also:

• clarify employee wage protections where a customer has stolen goods or services;
• require that employees are paid for trial periods;
• require that employers disclose certain tipping policies;
• set out methods for the payment of tips and provide that employees would select the account if they are paid wages or tips by direct deposit; and
• clarify vacation pay provisions.

The Ministry is currently seeking comments on the proposed changes to the ESA until February 7, 2024. If you are interested in reviewing the proposed amendments and/or making comments please click here.

Bill 149 and the proposed amendments to the ESA will have a broader application outside of the condominium industry, but the proposed changes may be of interest to our members.