Mar 20, 2023
By Jeremy Logan
According to legislation presented in Ontario Monday, employers who withhold foreign nationals’ passports or work permits may soon be subject to new fines totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The protections for migrant workers, extending the justifications for military reservists taking time off from work, and mandating more restrooms on construction sites, including ones just for women, are all part of an omnibus bill that Labour Minister Monte McNaughton introduced Monday.
The proposed modifications would increase the $250 fine that labour inspectors can currently impose for each passport or work permit that is withheld to $100,000.
Additionally, a punishment of up to $500,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both might be imposed on an individual employer who is finally found guilty by the courts of such an offence, while corporations could face a fine of up to $1 million.
The current fine amounts are $50,000 for people and $100,000 for businesses.
Also, McNaughton wants to increase the fine for businesses found guilty of any violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act from $1.5 million to $2 million.
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