NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2010LBR0006-001486 Nov. 25, 2010

Ministry of Labour

 

LABOUR MINISTRY TO GATHER INPUT ON EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

 

VICTORIA — Labour Minister Iain Black today announced that he has asked senior ministry staff to meet with key business and labour stakeholders to discuss employment standards, including minimum wage.

 

“The workplace is changing constantly,” Black said. “I’ve asked staff to gather views on how we can best ensure employment standards reflect the realities and needs of employees and employers in 21^st-century workplaces.”

 

Black said staff will have focused discussions with organizations that represent the interests of employees and employers, as well as independent experts, over the next two to three months.

 

The purpose of the meetings will be to elicit stakeholder views and provide advice on how to modernize B.C.’s employment standards system around the following themes:

 

·         The role and purpose of the minimum wage in today’s economy, and how it should be established and adjusted.

·         Enhancing flexibility for employees and employers.

·         Clarifying and simplifying standards.

·         Improving the provision of information on employment standards to employees and employers.

·         Improving the enforcement of employment standards.

·         Ensuring expeditious hearing and determination of complaints.

 

The Employment Standards Act and regulation set minimum standards of wages and working conditions in most British Columbia workplaces. The legislation covers hours of work, overtime, minimum wage, payment of wages and statutory holidays.

 

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Media Contact:

Linda O’Connor Communications Manager Ministry of Labour 250 387-0172

 

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