Wednesday November 29, 2006
For Immediate Release
Winnipeg, MB – Manitoba’s NDP Government has introduced the most significant changes to the province’s labour laws in over thirty years in an effort to modernize the Employment Standards Code.
“The NDP by introducing these changes once again demonstrate a willingness to turn their eyes and ears towards the working men and women of this province. Previous Tory governments eroded worker rights,” said IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative Brian Short. “The NDP want dignity for Manitobans and once again stepped up to the plate with this legislative agenda. Bringing the Manitoba Employment Standards Code to this level can now be looked upon as one that truly reflects the modern needs of workers and their respective workplaces.”
The proposed changes are the result of a consensus reached by labour and management representatives of the Labour Management Review Committee (LMRC) after an open and thorough public consultation. Highlights of the proposed changes include:
- Improved statutory holiday pay provisions for part-time workers
- New graduated termination notice rules based on employees’ years of service
- Three new unpaid days for illness or to attend to family responsibilities
- Three new unpaid bereavement days
- Exemptions from hours of work and overtime for employees who earn a minimum annual amount and exercise substantial control over their work schedule
- Improving the ability to recover earned wages
- Provisions to prevent deductions from pay where there is no direct benefit to the worker
- Expanding the definition of a family member to qualify for various statutory leaves
- Prohibiting employment of those under the age of 18 in higher-risk industries
The province launched a public review of the code in 2005 to gather input on ways to improve and update the legislation. That review generated over 100 submissions from workers, employers and stakeholder groups throughout Manitoba and highlighted the need for substantial changes to the code.
Based on feedback from the public hearings, the LMRC submitted a number of consensus recommendations to the government resulting in the proposed changes to the legislation. “Worker needs are ever-changing and the NDP government recognizes that like no other government has,” added Short.
