Legislation under the purview of the Minister of Labour

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

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Figure 1: Legislation under the purview of the Minister of Labour

• Figure 1 - Text version

  The Labour Program is responsible for promoting safe, healthy and cooperative workplaces. Through legislation, programs and services, the Labour Program fosters good working conditions, constructive labour-management relations and workplaces free from discrimination.

  Six pieces of legislation fall under the purview of the Minister of Labour.

  Each of the 6 Acts cover different sectors in the federal jurisdiction. The number of employees covered by each Act also varies.

  The 6 pieces of legislation included in the mandate of the Minister of Labour are as follows:

  • Canada Labour Code
  • Wage Earner Protection Program Act
  • Employment Equity Act
  • Pay Equity Act (not yet in force)
  • Government Employees Compensation Act
  • Non-Smokers Health Act

  The Canada Labour Code

  • The Canada Labour Code has 3 parts:
  • Part I (Industrial Relations) governs workplace relations and collective bargaining
  • Part II (Occupational Health and Safety) aims to prevent workplace-related accidents and injuries, including occupational diseases
  • Part III (Labour Standards) sets employment conditions and provides protection for employees

  Part I of the Canada Labour Code covers approximately 972,000 employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • the territorial private sector
  • federal Crown corporations
  • First Nation Band Councils (certain activities), and
  • municipal governments in the territories

  Part II of the Canada Labour Code covers approximately 1.2 million employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • the federal public sector, including:
    • the Public Service
    • federal Crown corporations
    • agencies
    • the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • the Canadian Armed Forces (civilian employees only)
  • the Parliamentary precinct (for example, Minister’s offices, Senate, House of Commons, Library), and
  • First Nation Band Councils (certain activities)

  Part III of the Canada Labour Code covers approximately 935,000 employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • federal Crown corporations, and
  • First Nation Band Councils (certain activities)

  The Wage Earner Protection Program Act

  The Wage Earner Protection Program Act provides for the payment of outstanding eligible wages to individuals whose employer is bankrupt or subject to a receivership. The Wage Earner Protection Program Act covers approximately 12 million employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • the territorial private sector, and
  • the provincial private sector

  The Employment Equity Act

  The Employment Equity Act advances equality in the workplace so that no one is denied employment opportunities or advancement for reasons unrelated to ability. The Act also aims to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. The Employment Equity Act covers approximately 1.2 million employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • federal contractors (applies to contractors with over 100 employees receiving contracts of more than $1 million from the Government of Canada)
  • the federal public sector, including:
    • the public service (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. President of Treasury Board tables public sector reports to Parliament each year)
    • federal Crown corporations
    • agencies (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. President of Treasury Board tables public sector reports to Parliament each year)
    • the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. President of Treasury Board tables public sector reports to Parliament each year)
    • Canadian Armed Forces (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. President of Treasury Board tables public sector reports to Parliament each year)
  • First Nation Band Councils (certain activities)

  The Pay Equity Act

  The Pay Equity Act (not yet in force) governs the proactive pay equity regime in Canada. The Act requires employers with 10 or more federally regulated employees to examine their compensation practices to ensure that women and men receive equal pay for work of equal value. The Pay Equity Act covers approximately 1.2 million employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • federal contractors (applies to contractors with over 100 employees receiving contracts of more than $1 million from the Government of Canada)
  • the federal public sector, including:
    • the public service
    • federal Crown corporations
    • agencies
    • the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • the Canadian Armed Forces
  • the Parliamentary precinct (for example, Minister’s offices, Senate, House of Commons, Library), and
  • First Nation Band Councils (certain activities). The Pay Equity Act will apply to First Nation Band Councils after consultations are held and a regulatory process has been completed

  The Government Employees Compensation Act

  The Government Employees Compensation Act provides benefits to federal employees (or their dependants) who suffer an injury or illness arising out of or in the course of their employment. The Government Employees Compensation Act covers approximately 420,000 employees (or their dependants) in the following sectors:

  • the federal public sector, including:
  • the public service
  • federal Crown corporations
  • agencies
  • the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP reservists are eligible for coverage under the Government Employees Compensation Act)
  • the Canadian Armed Forces (Canadian Armed Forces reservists are eligible for coverage under the Government Employees Compensation Act)
  • the Parliamentary precinct (applies to some parliamentary employers such as the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament)

  The Non-Smokers’ Health Act

  The Non-Smokers’ Health Act restricts and regulates smoking in work spaces. The Non-Smokers’ Health Act covers approximately 1.2 million employees in the following sectors:

  • the federal private sector
  • the federal public sector, including:
    • the public service
    • federal Crown corporations
    • agencies
    • the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • the Canadian Armed Forces (civilian employees only)
  • the Parliamentary precinct (for example, Minister’s offices, Senate, House of Commons, Library)
  • First Nation Band Councils (certain activities)

  For more information on current and future legislative and regulatory changes, visit: canada.ca/labour