Saskatchewan is in the process of legislating new Employment Law legislation which updates and consolidates labour legislation from 12 Acts.
Some of the new provisions to be contained in The Saskatchewan Employment Act include:
- Indexation of the minimum wage
- Protection of individuals searching for work by unscrupulous recruitment providers
- Unions to provide audited financial statements and the results of votes
- A 40 hour work week being either – eight hours per day for five days per week or 10 hours per day for four days per week
- Organ and donation leave to attend citizenship ceremonies
- Clarification of the definition of employee to exclude confidential or managerial positions
- A definition of supervisory employee to restrict a supervisor from belonging to the same bargaining unit as those they supervise
- Decertification of a union that has been inactive for three or more years
- Employees can reapply after 12 months to decertify a union after being previously denied
- Unions can fine a member for crossing a picket line
- Reduction from 20 weeks to 13 weeks service for the qualification period for maternity, parental and adoption leave
- Equal compensation for prohibitions under The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code
The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety is currently reviewing feedback prior to the passing of this new legislation which date at the time of writing has not been announced.
On April 5, 2013, the Communications Branch, Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety informed us that Bill 85 is currently in second reading debate.
For more details, visit the Government of Saskatchewan.
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