Ontario Work Environment & Visas

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Working in Ontario

Ontario’s Work Environment & Visas

As a worker, you have rights and responsibilities to basic working conditions in federal and provincial law. Workplace standards look after you as a worker and you should know them. They are different for every industry. They ensure the workplace is fair, safe, healthy, and useful for both workers and the employers. You should learn your working conditions and get them in writing.

Learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a worker by exploring the following:

• Employment Standards Act

• Health and Safety in the Workplace

• Information and Resource Websites

• Ontario Human Rights Code

• Work Visas

Employment Standards Act

The Ontario Employment Standards Act is there for each worker. The Employment Standards Act helps each worker with many important work issues. This includes minimum wage, parental/maternity and sickness benefits, rules on being fired or laid-off and working overtime.

Follow the link to learn more about the Employment Standards Act - Multilingual Information

Settlement.org gives you a step-by-step guide about your rights as worker.

Health and Safety in the Workplace

The Occupational Health and Safety Act gives you information on workplace health and safety risks. As a worker, if it is not safe, then you have the right not to work.

If you feel forced to work unsafely, contact Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). You can also talk to them if you have an injury at work. WSIB’s Multilingual Resources is also a useful tool.

Information and Resource Websites

• Workplace Gateway- This is for Workers Rights and Responsibilities

• Work Smart Ontario - This is for youth and new workers in Ontario

• Canadian Rights and Values

Ontario Human Rights Code

Problems can happen at work and this can make a worker feel that he/she has been mistreated. In Canada, the law can stop this, if it is about your religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

The Ontario Human Rights code helps by trying to stop these hate crimes in the workplace. To learn about the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Ontario Human Rights Commission you can go to:

• Ontario Human Rights Commission

• Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO)

• Human Rights Legal Support Centre

Work Visas

To work in Canada you need Canadian citizenship, or you have to be a permanent resident. You can apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a work permit to work in Canada. Follow the link to learn how to work as an international student.