Sunday, April 25, 2004

ONTARIO CUTS 60-HOUR WORK WEEK

From The Toronto Star.

Ontario is introducing legislation Monday that will end the 60-hour work week, forcing employers who want their employees to work more than 48 hours in a week to get permission from both their staff and the government.

In addition, employers will only be allowed to ask for an extension up to a maximum of 60 hours a week, The Canadian Press has learned.

"We want to be able to give people the choice, so they don't feel undue pressure," from employers to work long hours, a government source said.

"It ensures people aren't forced to work longer hours than they want to."

It's about time.

The Harris government's extension of the 40-hour week to 60 hours in 2000 was a significant blow to the rights of labourers and a major affront to organized labour's long fight over the twentieth century to achieve the 40-hour work week.

Good for the Liberals for bringing Ontario back in line with the other provinces where the work week is 40, 44 or 48 hours.

Posted by Matthew @ 7:06 p.m.