Employment standards are enforced under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) which sets out the minimum standards that employers and employees must follow.
For a brief introduction to the Employment Standards Act, 2000, see "Your Rights at Work", a handy brochure explaining its general parts and provisions. For a detailed description of your rights and responsibilities under the ESA please see "Your Guide to the Employment Standards Act". This guide is a convenient source of information about key sections of the ESA and is filled with helpful examples.
The poster, "What You Should Know About the Ontario Employment Standards Act", outlines employees’ rights and employers’ responsibilities at work and must be posted in most workplaces. Version 4.0 has been published to replace the poster currently posted in workplaces (Version 3.0).
For ease of use and convenience, there are e-forms for employers to apply on-line for Hours of Work and Averaging Overtime and for employees to file an employment standards claim on-line. Employees can also use the Self Help Kit to help them resolve issues with their employer on their own.
The Fact Sheets are also convenient sources of information about key sections of the legislation. These publications are provided for your information and convenience only.
Employment Standards publications are available online. They are not legal documents. For the exact wording, please refer to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and its regulations.
The Ministry of Labour, through its Employment Standards Program:
- enforces the ESA and its regulations
- provides information and education to employers and employees, making it easier for people to understand and comply voluntarily
- investigates possible violations
- resolves complaints
- conducts proactive inspections of payroll records and workplace practices
Please note that the ESA does not apply to you if you operate or work in a business that is regulated by the Government of Canada, such as: airlines, banks, shipping companies, radio and television stations, inter-provincial transport of goods and people.
