By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Province introduces bill to update 30-year old employment, labour codes

May 24, 2017 | 2:46 PM

EDMONTON – The province hopes to move into the 21st century with updates to current employment standards and labour relations codes.

Extensive consultations that began in March with employers, business and labour organizations, municipalities, academics and advocacy groups shaped the Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act, Bill 17. Well over 7,000 submissions were received by the Alberta Government on the matter.

One Lethbridge mom became a proponent for the decision after losing her job with the Lethbridge Lodging Association.

“I was fired from my job after I requested time off to care for my seven-year old son when he was diagnosed with cancer. I didn’t qualify for job-protected leave and it has made this difficult time much harder for me and my family,” Amanda Jensen noted in a media release. 

“I want to thank the Government of Alberta for introducing changes that will help ensure this doesn’t happen to any other parent in Alberta.

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According to Alberta’s current employment standards, employees must work at their job for at least one year before they can be eligible for up to eight weeks of compassionate care leave.

During a media conference Wednesday (May 24) morning, Labour Minister Christina Gray made it clear that it would be unacceptable for the province to allow such practices to continue.
 
Andrew Sims, labour relations expert, was involved in the consultation process. He also explained from his professional view that this is far from a “cutting edge, lead the country reform,” but will bring in best practices from other provinces that will be balanced with the Alberta workforce’s unique needs.
 
Bill 17 was introduced into legislation on Wednesday afternoon to include the following amendments:
 
– maternity leave extend by one week to 16 weeks;
– parental leave extend from 37 weeks to 52 weeks;
– compassionate care leave extend from eight weeks to 27 weeks;
– guarantee job protection for new unpaid leave, including:
  – long-term illness and injury
  – personal and family responsibility
  – bereavement
  – domestic violence
  – citizenship ceremony
  – critical illness of a child
  – death or disappearance of a child;
– set eligibility period for all job-protected leaves at 90 days of employment;
– remove a provision allowing employers to apply for a permit to pay persons with disabilities less than minimum wage;
– raise the minimum age of work to 13;
– modernize overtime, vacation pay and termination notice standards;
– introduce stronger enforcement, including administrative penalties when warranted;
– introduce access to first contract arbitration in order to assist parties with successful bargaining and improved dispute resolution methods;
– simplify union certification and de-certification;
– expand essential services to continuing care operations; and
– enhance rights for waged, non-family farm and ranch workers while also protecting the family farm way of life.
 
“The changes and updates in Bill 17 are important, they are necessary and they just make sense,” Minister Gray added.
 
“Job security for parents and family members while they look after their loved ones makes sense. Modest changes that ensure fairness for both employers and employees makes sense. And empowering Albertans to contribute to our economy while still being able to live their lives and take care of their responsibilities makes sense.”

If passed, the new rules will take effect January 1, 2018.