New Help for Ontario Temporary Help Workers

By Sarah Diebel

On November 6, 2009 the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Temporary Help Agencies) will come into force.

The changes acknowledge the increasing number of temporary jobs and placement agencies in Ontario and will operate with existing employment standards legislation to ensure workers are treated fairly.

Temporary help agencies cater to business clients that submit requests for non-permanent and frequently short-term staff. These arrangements can last anywhere from days to years and apply to a widening range of clerical, manufacturing, construction and services workers, amongst others.

For more information of the effect of the changes and who will be captured by them, please consult the FAQs published by the Ministry of Labour.

For more information on how the law currently treats temporary workers, see Daniel Lublin's advice here.

Sarah Diebel is a lawyer with Whitten & Lublin LLP, an employment law firm providing counsel to both employers and employees on workplace matters. Sarah can be reached at sarah@whittenlublin.com.