Expand protection for workers and crack down on wage theft – this is the message WAC representatives shared with MPP Laura Albanese today. In her role as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Laura Albanese met with WAC to discuss the recommendations of the Dean Report, an Expert Advisory Panel on Occupational Health & Safety report and recommendations to the Minister of Labour.
WAC member Raul shared his experience working in the construc
tion industry, and facing wage theft multiple times. “Employers feel like they have the power, they don’t care about my rights” said Raul, calling for more proactive enforcement and anonymous hotlines where workers can report wage theft as it happens. “Employers should have to pay a cost when they break the law, not workers” said Raul.
Workers need stronger protection against reprisal, and confidence that reporting wage theft or health and safety violations will not cost them their job. For migrant and undocumented workers, speaking out could mean deportation. WAC is calling on the Ministry of Labour to update the law to ensure workers are paid for their work and are protected against wage theft.