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By Leona Alleslev, MP It doesn't matter
where I go or who I speak with - the message is clear and consistent –
Canadians are concerned about the changing nature of employment. It is not only
about the quantity of jobs but also about the quality. Those who have full
time jobs – and they do consider themselves the “luckier” ones - have watched
as conditions within those jobs have drastically declined - whether that's longer working hours and
more responsibility for the same pay, the reduction
of career training programs, the erosion or elimination of pensions and benefits,
or the constant fear of being laid off as their employer seeks to downsize or
trade full time employment positions for part time and contract ones. For part time
workers the stresses are similar but often compounded by the lack of any
benefits and the need to have multiple part time jobs. They often get 0 hours
in a week or have conflicts between their part time jobs as their employers
want them to work during the same periods. Contract workers are the most at
risk in the modern employment landscape as many are not contract workers by
choice, often performing the same duties as those who are part time or full
time. They often have to provide their own equipment, and have no workplace
health and safety, sick days, or vacation time, and can be terminated without
notice, cause or compensation. There is no commonly
accepted definition of precarious employment. Instead, it typically exhibits
symptoms such as low pay (sometimes below minimum pay), variable work hours,
uncertainty in current or future employment, no pension, no weekly minimum
hours of work, no benefits, no sick pay etc. The lack of a clear, objective
definition prevents the collection of concrete statistics to determine the
extent of precarious employment and to develop a framework to reduce workplace
insecurity. In 2014, 30-32% of
Canadians were in precarious work, with single parents (51.7%), recent
immigrants (40.7%) and visible minorities (34.4%) amongst the highest
percentage in Ontario alone. The age groups impacted the most were youth (under
25 years old) who are trying to enter the workforce and seniors (over 65 years
old) who are unable to retire as they have no pension security to rely upon. In
2015, more than 26% of Ontario's workforce was categorized as non-standard
employment, including temporary employees, solo self-employed and involuntary
part-time workers. It is clear that our employment landscape has shifted
leaving Canadians with not only financial uncertainty, but also the inability
to plan for the future. Employment instability
affects the financial, mental and physical health of individuals and their
families – and this has consequences on Canadian society. Precarious employment
not only affects an individual's standard of living, but also increases the
cost to the Canadian taxpayer – by increasing the demands on our healthcare
system, our Employment Insurance (EI) program, and delivering less income tax
revenue to pay for the programs and services that ensure a prosperous economy
and the well-being of all Canadians. Last month, I hosted
a town hall to discuss this issue and explore several policy areas that might
improve both the quality and the quantity of jobs for Canadians. Suggestions
include: Reward Companies
that have a high percentage of full time Employees. This could be done by
offering a lower EI premium than that of companies who have a higher ratio of
part time to full time. Reward Companies
that have comprehensive benefit and pension packages for all their workers.
This could be provided through incentives or an overall lower corporate tax
rate. Reward Companies
that provide career development and training programs. This could be provided
through lower EI premiums or other incentives. To reduce precarious
employment, it is critical we begin collecting relevant, robust data that will
allow the federal government to create comprehensive tax reforms and policies.
The federal government must define a legal and policy framework that fosters
increased economic security, and positions Canadians to get ahead, and not just
get by. As always, do not hesitate to contact me at
Leona.Alleslev@parl.gc.ca or by phone at 905-773-8358 to let me know your
priorities for building a better Canada in 2019.
Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill
Post date: 2019-05-09 19:08:35
Post date GMT: 2019-05-09 23:08:35
Post modified date: 2019-05-09 19:08:44
Post modified date GMT: 2019-05-09 23:08:44
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