FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF TEMP AGENCY WORKERS

A growing sector of precarious work in our society is temporary employment. Temp agency workers make 40% less than permanent workers, and are being treated like second class workers – not getting public holiday pay, having to pay fees for work and then denied access to permanent work due to contracts between the temp agency and client company. Outdated labour laws need to be overhauled to protect these workers.

In the fall of 2006 Liberal MPP Vic Dillon introduced Bill 161 to license temp agencies and better protect temp workers. In WAC’s opinion, without adequate enforcement of our basic laws, this bill would have been ineffective at truly protecting people working through agencies. WAC has been very active on this issue: we presented our recommendations to the Ministry of Labour to improve the Bill in December 2006; we met with Vic Dillon this Spring; and finally, in May, presented our submission to government officials at hearings at Queen’s Park. The Bill was revised and some of our recommendations for improvements were included! In May 2007, Bill 161 did not pass third reading and therefore, has to be introduced as a new Bill again. Overall, we need better enforcement of the laws we already have to ensure real protection at work.

From discriminatory questions in the application process, to racialized selection for assignments, to human rights violations experienced on the job, temporary workers have reported systemic human rights violations in the temp industry. Please view our Policy Brief Human Rights Violations in the Temp Industry: Recommendations for Action for more information.

Feeling the pressure from media coverage of Workers Action Centre's efforts to improve protection for temp workers and general support for the private members bill to protect temp workers, the Minister of Labour has been forced to take action. On December 23, 2006, the Minister of Labour announced in the Legislative Assembly that his Ministry was launching an inspections blitz on temp agencies. The Workers Action Centre provided the Ministry with a list of 54 temp agencies where members have experienced problems with agencies violating the law. We will be watching to see if the inspections actually improve conditions for temp workers at these agencies.