Ontario proposes bigger ESA fines, greater job transparency with new legislation

Ontario is going to punish employers who break the law with hefty fines.

Labor Secretary David Picchini has announced that his government will introduce legislation that would increase penalties for violating the Employment Standards Act. They would seek to crack down on organizations that fail to pay wages, hire employees for taking time off. Pregnancy or parenting penalizes and unequal pay for equal work.

The maximum fine for people convicted of violating this law will increase from $50,000 to $100,000.

Piccini said the ministry's recent research shows that 10,000 Ontario employees are owed a total of $4.2 million.

The new fines are part of a bill that is to be introduced in parliament on Monday.

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