Ontario employers will see a range of workplace rule changes take effect Jan. 1, 2025, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development said. Amendments include new standards for immigration representatives, updated premium assessments for temporary employment agencies and expanded health and safety requirements on construction sites.
The ministry said the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 will now crack down on “fraudulent immigration representatives that exploit newcomers.” The changes set new standards and add penalties such as fines, multi-year bans and lifetime bans.
Under a revised regulation in the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the ministry said it will no longer publish the full business addresses of temporary help agencies and recruiter applicants on Ontario.ca, noting that these addresses “sometimes may be home addresses.” Officials said the change is intended to increase safety and privacy.
An amendment to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 will affect how temporary employment agencies are charged premiums for clerical, administrative and other professional labour. The ministry said, “TEAs will now be charged a premium for those workers according to the nature of their work, rather than the rate assigned to the client employer.”
In an effort to promote inclusivity in skilled trades, a regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act will require the construction sector to provide menstrual products for onsite crews of 20 or more workers, and for projects expected to last three months or more, the ministry said.
A new regulatory amendment within the Occupational Health and Safety Act will also set higher design standards and inspection requirements for tower cranes. The ministry said it builds on changes introduced earlier this year “to ensure equipment is installed, used, inspected and maintained in a way that better protects site workers and the public.”
The province is further amending the Occupational Health and Safety Act to allow for greater oversight of Worker Trades Committees, aiming to better identify trade-related health and safety concerns on construction sites, the ministry said.
