Singapore’s employment laws are set to undergo watershed changes come April 2019. In summary, a greater number of employees – in particular, professionals, managers and executives (“PMEs”) – will soon be able to avail themselves of the statutory protections contained in Singapore’s Employment Act, the key employment legislation in Singapore. The single most significant legislative … Continue reading
On November 21, 2018, Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, received royal assent. Bill 47 amends both the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA). The full text of Bill 47 can be found here. The changes to the ESA come into force on January 1, … Continue reading
Overview On October 23, 2018, the Ontario Government announced its much anticipated legislation in relation to employment and labour law matters. The legislation, dubbed the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 (Bill 47), will remove or modify many of the obligations placed on Ontario employers by way of the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, … Continue reading
On April 9, 2018, BC’s Minister of Labour introduced Bill 6, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, to the BC Legislature. Bill 6 includes proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) to bring certain types of leave into line with the Federal government’s recent changes to the Employment Insurance Act so that employees are entitled to job protection under the … Continue reading
An estimated 8 to 10% of Singapore’s existing workforce comprise freelancers and self-employed individuals.[1] This percentage is likely to increase with the expansion of the gig and on-demand economy. In recent months, there has been increasing public concern as to the ‘employment’ rights and legal status of these freelancers and self-employed individuals. Are they employees … Continue reading
Le projet de loi 176 intitulé « Loi modifiant la Loi sur les normes du travail et d’autres dispositions législatives afin principalement de faciliter la conciliation famille-travail » a été déposé par le gouvernement libéral à l’Assemblée nationale à la fin du mois de mars. Plusieurs de ses dispositions auront un impact significatif sur les agences de placement … Continue reading
The Act to amend the Act respecting labour standards and other legislative provisions (the bill) was tabled by the liberal government at the National Assembly at the end of March. Several provisions of this bill will have an impact on the businesses of personnel placement agencies. Here is our take on these issues. In a … Continue reading
Effective January 1, 2018, employers covered by the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) have been required to post version 7.0 of the Ministry of Labour poster “Fair at Work Ontario – What You Need to Know” in the workplace where it is likely to come to the attention of employees. Employers must also provide … Continue reading
Since Ontario Family Day is coming on February 19, please take another look at our posts explaining how Bill 148 amended the public holiday provisions in the Ontario Employment Standards Act. As you may recall, there is a new formula for calculating public holiday pay, plus additional employer obligations when an employee works on a … Continue reading
Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) Ontario has nine public holidays: New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 26). Nothing in Bill 148 has changed that. Likewise, an employee who would otherwise be eligible to take the public holiday … Continue reading
Bill 148 reforms have ushered in changes to the public holiday provisions of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”). This post outlines the new formula for calculating public holiday pay that came into effect on January 1, 2018. Full time, part time, permanent and fixed-term employees can all still qualify for the public holiday … Continue reading
The Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) is a key employment law statute setting certain minimum terms and conditions of employment applicable to most employees in Ontario. Employers covered by the ESA are required to post “the most recent version” of the Ontario Ministry of Labour poster about rights and obligations under the ESA … Continue reading
Those of you who have been following this series of blogs will know that Bill 148 ESA amendments generally apply to unionized workplaces as of the effective date of the particular amendment. There are a few limited exceptions, however. In yesterday’s post, we addressed how employers with unionized employees may find temporary relief from the … Continue reading
As we explained in yesterday’s post, the Bill 148 amendments to the ESA minimum standards will generally apply to unionized workplaces as of the effective date of the particular amendment. However, there are two circumstances in which a collective agreement provision in effect on April 1, 2018 will temporarily prevail over certain Bill 148 amendments … Continue reading
It is hard to imagine a question more pressing for Ontario employers of unionized employees. For the most part, the Bill 148 amendments to the ESA minimum standards will apply to unionized workplaces as of the effective date of the particular amendment. More specifically, Bill 148 ESA amendments – including with respect to the minimum … Continue reading
Here’s what you need to know. On November 27th The Ontario Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act 2017 (Bill 148) received Royal Assent and passed into law. This is hardly likely to be news to anyone, given the amount of press Bill 148 has received and the numerous announcements and backgrounder reports the Ontario government issued … Continue reading
Ontario is one of a few Canadian jurisdictions that does not give its labour board the general authority to review, consolidate and otherwise amend bargaining units. In the Changing Workplaces Review Final Report, the special advisors recommended giving the Ontario Labour Relations Board (“Board”) the power to modify bargaining unit structures, if the Board … Continue reading
The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148), introduced on June 1, 2017, proposed adding a new section 6.1 to provisions in the Ontario Labour Relations Act, 1995 (“LRA”) that address union campaigns to establish bargaining rights. Headed “Establishment of Bargaining Rights by Certification”, the new section (which does not apply to the construction … Continue reading
The version of Ontario Bill 148 introduced by Premier Wynne and Labour Minister Flynn in June included significant changes to the personal emergency leave (“PEL”) entitlement under the current Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”). It eliminated the 50+ employee eligibility threshold, entitling all employees to 2 paid and 8 unpaid PEL days each calendar year. … Continue reading
The Employment Standards Act, 2000 contemplates equal pay between the sexes. As we reported in June, Ontario Bill 148 proposes adding “new equal pay for equal work” provisions that mandate paying casual, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees be paid the at the same rate as regular full-time employees who perform the same job for the … Continue reading
The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148) is the Ontario government’s blueprint for overhauling the province’s labour and employment laws. Incorporating union-friendly changes to the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (LRA) and enhanced employee entitlements under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), Bill 148 represents a wide swing to the left. It passed First … Continue reading
As part of candidate Emmanuel Macron’s program during the Presidential elections campaign, a substantial reform of the French employment Code was promised. After his election as President, French commentators anticipated new changes would be implemented quickly, given Emmanuel Macron’s indications that he wished to go ahead as soon as possible, without too much debate before … Continue reading
On July 18th 2017 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held, that employees of a subsidiary located in the territory of another member state do not have the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections of workers’ representatives on the supervisory board of the German parent company of that group and that such … Continue reading
This post was also contributed by Tony Rau, Trainee, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (Munich). German law provides for extensive protection of pregnant employees and employees on leave in connection with pregnancy. Regarding the latter, German law distinguishes between maternity leave (i.e. 6 weeks before until 8 weeks after childbirth – or 6 weeks before until … Continue reading