Ontario employers will see new requirements and benefits for workers after the province’s sixth Working for Workers Act, 2024 received royal assent on Dec. 19. The legislation, which the government said is designed to strengthen worker safety and support skilled trades, introduces measures such as additional roadside worker protections, a 27-week job-protected leave for serious medical conditions and new parental leave for adoption and surrogacy.
“This game-changing measure will grow Ontario’s workforce by bringing more women into the trades, crack down on bad actors who exploit newcomers and improve occupational cancer presumptions for firefighters and fire investigators,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Among the changes, drivers are now required to slow down and move over for certain work-related vehicles at roadside, according to the government. The legislation also calls for properly fitted personal protective equipment for women in all sectors, with the province saying it hopes to encourage women’s participation in skilled trades.
The act invests up to $1.4 billion through the Skills Development Fund to train more than one million workers and outlines new standards for immigration representatives. The government said it is also lowering costs for businesses by giving $2.5 billion in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) surpluses to safe employers and reducing employer premium rates.
Piccini said these changes build on five previous Working for Workers Acts introduced since 2021, adding that the government is “building a brighter future for all Ontario workers and their families.”
