New Labour Standards In Effect April 30

More protection for both union and non-union workers.

The most comprehensive changes made to Manitoba's Employment Standards Code in 30 years will come into effect on Monday, April 30. Many of the changes provide workers with more protection and benefits than in the past.

For the first time, Manitoba's Labour Standards entitle all employees to three unpaid days off work annually due to personal illness or to attend to the needs of another family member. Effective April 30, Manitoba workers will also be entitled to a three-day unpaid leave to deal with the death of a family member. For all unpaid leave, the definition of "family" has been broadened to include extended family.

The new Labour Standards also contain improved statutory holiday pay provisions for part-time workers. Part-time employees will now be entitled to the same general holiday pay as full-time employees. In most cases, employees are entitled to five per cent of their earnings in the 28 days before the general holiday as general holiday pay.

The updated Labour Standards include a lot of provisions targeted at protecting young workers. All employees under 16 years old must to have a permit from the Employment Standards Branch before they begin their jobs. They cannot work more than 20 hours during a week of school.

Employees under 18 years old cannot work alone between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Employees under 16 years old cannot work at all from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in any industry.

The revised Labour Standards stipulate the amount of notice an employer must give when terminating a person's employment based on years of service. The length of notice an employer must give an employee who has held their job for less than one year is one week. People who have worked at least one year but less than three years are to receive two weeks. An employee who has worked for the same employer for at least three years but less than five years must receive four weeks notice of termination by the employer. People who have worked at least five years but less than 10 years are to receive six weeks notice, while those who have been on the job for 10 years or more are to receive eight weeks notice if they're going to be terminated.

If a worker wants to quit their job, they must give their employer one week's of notice if they've worked for that company for more than 30 days but less than one year. They must give two weeks notice if they have worked for the company for more than one year.

More information on these and other new provisions of the Manitoba Labour Standards can be found on the Government of Manitoba web site.