Ontario work standards worry Christian watchdogs
Christian workers in Ontario, who nearly a decade ago lost the fight against Sunday shopping, may soon face another obstacle to keeping the Christian Sabbath as a day of rest.
If the Ontario government proceeds with proposed changes to its Employment Standards Act, employees may have to work a 60-hour week, something Christian organizations representing both employers and workers argue will make it more difficult for employees to find time for their families and their churches.
"Once law, this legislation will permit a maximum of 60 hours per week. While this may be reality, it is not quality of life," says Hans Vander Stoep, executive director of the Canadian Christian Business Federation. "Where's the common sense in a 60-hour week?"
The proposal to allow for longer work weeks is part of a consultation paper issued by Ontario Labour minister Chris Stockwell. Stockwell denies workers will have to work 60 hours, maintaining that employees would still have the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours a week. He says the proposed legislative changes will simply allow workers and their employers the flexibility to come to mutual agreements on working hours, vacation schedules and other aspects of employment.
Negative impact
While Vander Stoep commends the government for attempting to update legislation to better reflect today's workplace reality, he argues that allowing employers to demand longer working hours and scheduling vacation in daily increments will have a negative impact on families already finding it difficult to find time for family and social activities.
Others share Vander Stoep's worries. Ray Pennings, public relations director for the Christian Labour Association of Canada, is particularly concerned that the government's proposal to allow employers and employees to mutually agree on work hours and vacation schedules will result in discrimination against vulnerable workers in such sectors as the garment industry, which has a high rate of new immigrants.
Pennings also warns that the proposed changes to the Ontario legislation will force potential workers to "mislead employers when applying for a job by not revealing their religious convictions." He fears that businesses will attempt to avoid hiring workers who require Sundays or other days off to meet their religious obligations and argues that protecting a person's religious rights needs to be extended into the hiring process as well.
Still, Pennings applauds the government's proposal to improve workers' rights to time off to deal with a family crisis and increasing fines and anti-reprisal measures for employers who take advantage of vulnerable and overloaded workers.
The Ontario government plans to formally introduce changes to the Employment Standards Act in October.
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