Our employers steal our wages. Our government allows it. It’s time to stop it.
On October 28, 2025 almost 200 workers came together to launch the Stop Wage Theft campaign. WAC released the ground-breaking report that documents rampant wage theft:
- 60% of workers surveyed report that their employer stole their wages
- More than half of workers did not receive overtime premium pay
- Living pay cheque to pay cheque is hard. But it is devastating for the 47% of workers that reported that their pay was late, creating financial problems
The Stop Wage Theft campaign will target the Ford government that has slashed enforcement since it came into power in 2018. Workplace inspections have been cut by 77% and penalties for employers found guilty of wage theft have dropped by 85%. No wonder employers have gotten away with refusing to pay workers over $80 million in wages.
We will also focus on employers who steal our wages. We must stop employers that use subcontracting and hire us as contractors instead of employees to avoid the law while they profit from our labour.
Workers like Alberto, Julieta, Maria Elena, Isaias, Taofeek, Gursaab, Gurman, and others at the Workers’ Action Centre are leading the campaign.
Alberto’s story
Alberto is still waiting for more than $31,000 owed to him, years after the Ministry of Labour ordered his employer to pay. His case was profiled in the Toronto Star on October 18th and he spoke at the campaign launch. Alberto underscored the key campaign demand to the government: Ministry of Labour – Do Your Job!
The government must stop relying on employers to voluntarily follow the law, and start enforcing our labour rights and holding wage thieves accountable. We need action to:
- Identify all employers who break the law and steal workers’ wages through proactive and expanded inspections;
- Make sure employers repay all wages owing to workers by improving collections and prosecuting those that do not pay;
- Make sure employers compensate workers for the damage caused by wage theft by paying 3 times the wages stolen; and
- Penalize all wage theft employers to stop future violations.
Julieta’s story
Julieta is owed almost $6,000 from her job cleaning in a City of Toronto long-term care home. Her case was also featured in the Toronto Star on October 24th. Julieta told us at the launch that wage theft is not just a bounced cheque. Even though she wore a City of Toronto uniform, the City did not take responsibility for unpaid wages – the City had contracted out the work.
The system of subcontracting allows big companies to take advantage of workers and hide behind layers of subcontractors. Julieta joined the call because she wants to help fix the laws that let companies avoid their responsibility to workers. We need action to:
- Make companies at the top of the supply chain responsible for wages and labour rights down the contracting chain.
- Stop employers from misclassifying employees as independent contractors.
Former Columna Workers
Many workers who don’t have any protection at work are supposed to report wage theft. Yet, as Isaias said at the campaign launch, when he and his coworkers got together to discuss late paycheques, unpaid overtime, vacation and holiday pay, the boss fired him. They accused him of trying to start a union. Four workers were owed over $35,000 but the employer has so far refused to pay all the money owed.
As Isaias said, the system needs to change to protect workers instead of allowing employers to exploit us. These are the changes we need:
- We must have the right to take action together to enforce our ESA rights and improve working conditions. This should happen without any employer interfering with us. This is called protection for concerted activity.
- Workers need “just cause” protections that make an employer provide valid reasons before firing employees.
Former Sunrise Workers
Employers can hide from their responsibilities to workers through complex contracting business models. This Toronto Star article exposes one owner who owes $250,000 in unpaid wages and compensation. WAC supported 13 of these workers fighting to recover their stolen wages. The restaurant had advertised to job seekers saying the pay was above minimum wage. In fact, these workers were paid less than minimum wage. Wages were delayed, paycheques bounced, and they did not get overtime pay for working 17-hour shifts all week.
Though the Ontario Ministry of Labour ruled that the employer owed Taofeek $30,000 and Gursaab $19,000, they and six other workers are still waiting for their hard earned money.
It’s time for change.
Join the Stop Wage Theft campaign!
Rally to Stop Wage Theft
Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Ministry of Labour, 400 University Avenue (St. Patrick subway station)
RSVP to join us on November 29
On Saturday, November 29 at 1:00 pm, join the rally outside the Ministry of Labour at 400 University Ave, Toronto. Show solidarity with workers fighting for unpaid wages. Members of the Workers’ Action Centre who are owed over $400,000 in unpaid wages will be calling on the government to do their job!
Together, we can stop employers from getting away with wage theft.
Other ways to join the movement
✉️Send an email to tell your local Member of Provincial Parliament: It’s time to Stop Wage Theft now!
☎️Did your employer steal your wages? Call the Workers’ Action Centre hotline at (416) 531-0778. All calls are free and confidential.
Want to learn more about wage theft? Take a look at these wage theft resources:
- Primer: An organizer’s guide to wage theft
- Policy Report: The crisis of wage theft in Ontario
We would love to work with you to organize a workshop in your community for workers who may be dealing with wage theft. Contact us at info@workersactioncentre.org.