In 2024, the Ontario legislature passed the Working for Workers Five Act and the Working for Workers Six Act, which introduced amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”), among other pieces of legislation. At the time of passage, the implementation dates for many of these amendments had yet to be announced. Now, several key changes are set to take effect in 2025, with additional measures scheduled for 2026.
Employers in Ontario should be aware of these legislative updates, as they will impact virtually every workplace in the province. Compliance with the ESA will be more critical than ever, as fines for violations have doubled from $50,000 to $100,000.