Employment Standards

Changes to Employment Standards Act, 2000 rules

Emergency Declaration

On April 7, an emergency was declared in Ontario under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act because of COVID-19. The emergency applies to the entire province of Ontario. As a result, an employee may have a right under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to take declared emergency leave, which is an unpaid, job-protected leave of absence. Learn more.

Temporary ESA rules continue

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government made a regulation that changed certain Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) rules during the COVID-19 period. The temporary rules continue to be in effect until July 3, 2021. Learn more.

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development enforces and promotes awareness of employment standards, such as minimum wage, hours of work, public holidays and other standards. Explore this website to learn more about employee rights and employer obligations in Ontario.

Employees who believe their employer is not complying with Ontario's employment standards can file a claim with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Our tools and calculators can help employers and employees understand and calculate entitlements for public holiday pay, termination pay, hours of work, overtime and more.

Employers and/or recruiters are legally required to provide employees with copies of these documents in certain circumstances.

For more information on employment standards and how they work, consult Your Guide to the ESA, 2000.