The Ontario government is looking to expanded supports for women working in the trades.
Proposed legislation aims to create a new job-protected parental leave for adoptive parents and parents through surrogacy, as well as 27-week job-protected leave for workers with serious illnesses.
“Our government has a clear mission: ensure Ontario continues to be the very best place to live, work, and raise a family,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development in a news release. “That means making sure Ontarians never have to choose between being a worker or a parent, and that if a worker gets sick with a critical illness they can take the time to recover without worrying about their job.”
If passed, the legislation would also support women in the trades by requiring all sectors to have properly fitting personal protective clothing and equipment for women.
According to the Canadian Standards Association, 50 per cent of women surveyed noted their PPE does not fit properly, 43 per cent said it is uncomfortable to wear and 35 per cent said the selection of women-specific PPE is inadequate.
In 2023, 374,600 women were employed in a skilled trades-related occupation in Ontario, representing 29 per cent of the 1.3 million Ontarians who were employed in a skilled-trades related occupation.
Officials say the changes are part of a larger proposed package, which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
