Wednesday, February 26, 2025 Legislative Update Newsletters Ontario Construction The Ontario government recently passed the sixth installment of its working for workers legislation, Bill 229, Working for Workers Six Act, 2024. Here are some notable changes. 1. Employment Standards Act Placement of child leave – An employee who has been employed for 13 weeks or more is entitled to 16 weeks unpaid leave if a child is placed in their care, custody, or control through adoption or surrogacy. Long term illness leave – An employee who has been employed for 13 weeks or more is entitled to an unpaid leave of up to 27 weeks due to a serious medical condition, conditional upon the employee providing a note from a qualified health practitioner. 2. Occupational Health and Safety Act Increased minimum fine – A $500,000 minimum fine will be imposed on a company found guilty of a second or subsequent offense under the OHSA that results in serious injury or death of a worker in a two-year period. Appropriate PPE – Employers must ensure that PPE provided, worn, or used is a proper fit and appropriate in the circumstances for diverse bodies. This addresses the need for better PPE for women. Regulations will be provided to help employers determine what constitutes appropriate PPE. You might be interested in The Power of Asking for Help 20 Jul 2026 How to Manage an Insecure Leader 16 Jul 2026 Heat of the Moment 13 Jul 2026 The Power Within Is No Yolk! 13 Jul 2026