‘No one should have to pay out of pocket for a uniform just to earn a paycheque’
Ontario is proposing workplace law changes that would ban most employers from charging staff for required uniforms and create a new statute to tighten oversight of talent agencies handling performers’ paycheques – measures that would force HR departments in key sectors to revisit contracts, payroll practices and vendor agreements.
The reforms would amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and establish the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation (STAR) Act as part of the government’s plan to “protect Ontario and build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy,” according to the Ontario government.
Under the proposed ESA amendments, employers would be prohibited from requiring employees to pay for uniforms or deducting uniform costs from their wages, except in limited situations. The ban would apply where uniforms are mandatory and employer-specific, including branded or logo apparel that is “not reasonably usable outside of work,” the Ontario government said.
“Ontario workers are the backbone of our province and they deserve to keep more of what they earn. Whether you work in a restaurant or hotel, no one should have to pay out of pocket for a uniform just to earn a paycheque,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “At the same time, Ontario’s entertainment and creative industries showcase our talent to the world and support...
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