May 15, 2015
Numbers released from foreign workers blitz
Results from the provincial vulnerable and temporary foreign workers blitz, that ran from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2014, have been released by the Ministry of Labour. The blitz involved 256 inspections.
The ministry considers vulnerable workers to be those who work in sectors where they may be at greater risk of having their rights violated, and who may lack the ability or resources to understand their rights. Vulnerable workers may include temporary foreign workers, young workers, newcomers to Canada, and those whose first language is neither English nor French.
Officers targeted nurseries and greenhouses, with a particular focus on public holidays, vacation pay, minimum wage, record-keeping and payment of wages.
Vulnerable workers results with 206 inspections completed:
The ministry considers vulnerable workers to be those who work in sectors where they may be at greater risk of having their rights violated, and who may lack the ability or resources to understand their rights. Vulnerable workers may include temporary foreign workers, young workers, newcomers to Canada, and those whose first language is neither English nor French.
Officers targeted nurseries and greenhouses, with a particular focus on public holidays, vacation pay, minimum wage, record-keeping and payment of wages.
Vulnerable workers results with 206 inspections completed:
- 35 employers were compliant and no violations were found.
- 171 employers were found to be non-compliant. As a result, 535 compliance tools (Compliance Order, Notice of Contravention or Part 1 Ticket) were issued.
- 99.9 per cent of the monies owing to employees assessed during the blitz were paid voluntarily by the employer.
- Over $175,390 was recovered for 1,406 employees. The most common monetary violations were for public holiday pay, vacation pay and overtime pay
- The most common non-monetary violations were for record-keeping, hours of work – excess daily/weekly, and vacation pay – written agreements
- 23 employers were compliant and no violations were found.
- 27 employers were found to be non-compliant. As a result, 53 compliance tools (Compliance Order, Notice of Contravention or Part 1 Ticket) were issued.
- 100 per cent of the monies owing to temporary foreign workers assessed during the blitz were paid voluntarily by the employer.
- Over $34,725 was recovered for 127 temporary foreign workers.
- The most common monetary violations were for deduction from wages, public holiday pay and vacation pay
- The most common non-monetary violations were for posting requirement, record-keeping and vacation pay — written agreements