{"id":86401,"date":"2021-10-18T14:51:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T18:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/?p=86401"},"modified":"2021-10-18T17:04:22","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T21:04:22","slug":"ontario-to-tighten-rules-for-temp-agencies-firms-that-recruit-foreign-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mileniostadium.com\/local\/gta\/ontario-to-tighten-rules-for-temp-agencies-firms-that-recruit-foreign-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario to tighten rules for temp agencies, firms that recruit foreign workers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ontario
New measures to be announced Monday by the Ontario government will give the province the power to shut down firms that recruit and place temporary workers if they violate employment standards. (Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Ontario government is set to\u00a0bring in the province’s strictest-ever rules for\u00a0companies that recruit temporary workers, including a system for shutting down temp agencies that exploit staff,\u00a0CBC News has learned.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior officials with the Ministry of Labour say the plans include mandatory licensing for temporary help agencies, giving the province the power to\u00a0stop\u00a0firms\u00a0from operating\u00a0if they violate employment standards.<\/p>\n

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The government will also create a dedicated team of inspectors to root out illegal treatment of workers and recover unpaid wages.<\/p>\n

The announcement, to be made Monday morning, will be the first in a series of employment-related measures from the Ford government. Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development\u00a0Monte McNaughton describes the moves as “rebalancing the scales” between vulnerable workers and big\u00a0business.<\/p>\n

“We’re going to shine the light on these bad actors in the industry, these temporary help agencies and recruiters that aren’t playing by the rules,” McNaughton told CBC News in an interview ahead of his announcement.<\/p>\n

\"Minister
Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s minister of labour, training and skills development, makes an announcement about job opportunities for newcomers in the Ottawa region on Oct. 15. (CBC \/ Radio-Canada)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The changes will be part of upcoming legislation that will make Ontario’s protection of temp workers the strongest in Canada, he said.<\/p>\n

McNaughton said he particularly wants to stop firms that exploit temporary foreign workers by withholding their passports or paying them less than minimum wage.<\/p>\n

“This is modern-day slavery, it’s unacceptable,” he said, promising “to really stand up for those women, immigrants, racialized communities, those from low-income communities and those workers that are being impacted by these unscrupulous things that are happening.”<\/p>\n

Inspectors found $3.3 million in unpaid wages<\/h2>\n

More than 2,000 temporary help agencies in Ontario place hundreds of thousands of workers in\u00a0seasonal and short-term employment each year, in sectors ranging from tourism to office work to agriculture.<\/p>\n

Some temp firms \u2014 including some who recruit temporary foreign workers \u2014 have been caught failing to comply with Ontario employment law on paying workers minimum wage, overtime and vacation pay.<\/p>\n

\"Migrant
Ontario’s new measures targeting temporary help agencies will also apply to firms that recruit foreign workers for the agriculture sector. (CBC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a Ministry of Labour enforcement campaign in 2020-21 concentrating on temp agencies supplying workers to retirement homes, farms, food processing plants and warehouses, inspectors found evidence of\u00a0$3.3 million in unpaid wages.<\/p>\n

The measures to be unveiled by McNaughton on Monday include:<\/p>\n