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Employment standards enforcement statistics

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    Enforcement overview

    The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) enforces the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and its regulations, which set out the minimum employment standards that most employers must follow. Learn more about the ministry’s role enforcing the ESA.

    The source of the data on this page is the Employment Standards Program’s case management system. Due to the ongoing nature of the ministry’s enforcement activities, these numbers may be subject to change. The data reported here is current as of July 13, 2021.

    Claim investigations

    Investigations are initiated when a claim is filed against an employer, alleging a violation under the ESA.

    The top violations found during claim investigations in 2019–20 were:

    • payment of wages
    • termination pay
    • vacation pay/vacation time
    • public holidays/public holiday pay
    • overtime pay

    Below are the most recent claim investigation numbers from 2020 to 2015.

    Fiscal year (April 1–March 31)Claim investigations
    2019–2018,965
    2018–1922,434
    2017–1814,921
    2016–1715,498
    2015–1615,411

    Inspections

    The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development conducts inspections of workplaces, focusing on high-risk sectors and repeat violators, to increase compliance with the ESA and the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act   (EPFNA). Inspections are initiated by the ministry and do not require a claim to be filed against the employer.

    The purpose of inspections is to:

    • enforce the ESA and the EPFNA, and their regulations
    • communicate the requirements, and raise awareness and understanding of the ESA and the EPFNA
    • promote self-reliance in the workplace

    The top employment standards violations discovered during inspections in 2019–20 were:

    • public holidays/public holiday pay
    • vacation pay/vacation time
    • overtime pay
    • payment of wages
    • minimum wage

    Below are the most recent inspection numbers from 2020 to 2015.

    Fiscal year (April 1 – March 31)Inspections completed
    2019–202,490
    2018–192,345
    2017–183,507
    2016–173,334
    2015–163,580

    Prosecutions

    When individual employers and corporations fail to comply with the ESA and its regulations, MLTSD may prosecute due to non-compliance.

    Below are the most recent prosecution numbers from 2021 to 2016.

    Fiscal year (April 1–March 31)Part I tickets issuedPart III prosecutions initiatedTotal prosecutions
    2020–2121223
    2019–20103747
    2018–19365086
    2017–1815479233
    2016–17765115880

    Convictions

    The following table lists individual employers or companies who were convicted of an offence under the ESA and/or its regulations for the month(s) listed. This includes Part I tickets, Part III prosecutions and summons under Part I of the Provincial Offences Act.

    Information about convictions under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, is posted on the Ontario government website for one year from the date of posting.

    December 2021

    There were no convictions reported for December 2021.

    November 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    EFCC Accounting Systems CorpNewmarketPart III Prosecution$3,125November 29, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s.  103(8), s.  132
    EFCC Accounting Systems CorpNewmarketPart III Prosecution$3,125November 29, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s.  103(8), s.  132
    Norstar Press IncTorontoPart III Prosecution$112,500.00November 10, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s.  103(8), s.  132
    Norstar Times IncTorontoPart III Prosecution$12,500.00November 10, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s.  103(8), s.  132

    October 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    2048965 Ontario Inc O/A Robbie WalkLondonPart III Prosecution $5,000.00October 27, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132
    2048965 Ontario Inc O/A Robbie WalkLondonPart III Prosecution $9,306.05October 27, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132
    Robert PouliotLondonPart III Prosecution $5,000.00October 27, 2021Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136
    Joe MachadoKitchenerPart III Prosecution $2,500.00October 20, 2021Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136
    Dutchies Fresh Market LtdKitchenerPart I Ticket $355.00October 15, 2021Improperly withhold or deduct from wages, s. 13(1)
    Dutchies Fresh Market LtdKitchenerPart I Ticket $355.00October 15, 2021Fail to give day off with public holiday pay – day ordinarily a working day, s. 26(1)

    September 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    1728684 Ontario Inc O/A MerivaleOttawaPart III Prosecution$6,250.00September 15, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132
    Elite Temp Agency Corp.LondonPart I Ticket$355.00September 27, 2021Fail to give wage statement within time allowed after employment ends, s. 12.1
    Elite Temp Agency Corp.LondonPart I Ticket$355.00September 27, 2021Fail to make records, s. 15(1)
    Elite Temp Agency Corp.LondonPart I Ticket$355.00September 27, 2021Fail to pay minimum wage, s. 23(1)

    August 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    Goodworkers.ca Windsor Essex IncWindsorPart I Ticket$360August 27, 2021Fail to give wage statement within time allowed after employment ends, s. 12.1
    Goodworkers.ca Windsor Essex IncWindsorPart I Ticket$360August 27, 2021Fail to make records, s. 15(1)
    Comalapa Enterprise IncHamiltonPart I Ticket$360August 16, 2021Fail to make records, s. 15(1)
    Comalapa Enterprise IncHamiltonPart I Ticket$360August 16, 2021Fail to produce records or provide assistance, s. 91(8)
    2525991 Ontario IncGoderichPart I Ticket$360August 12, 2021Fail to pay vacation pay, s. 35.2
    2525991 Ontario IncGoderichPart I Ticket$360August 6, 2021Fail to pay minimum wage, s. 23(1)
    2525991 Ontario IncGoderichPart I Ticket$360August 6, 2021Fail to pay regular pay, give substitute day off with public holiday pay or pay premium pay plus public holiday pay – employee required to work – day ordinarily a working day, s. 28(2)

    July 2021

    There were no convictions reported for July 2021.

    June 2021

    Court locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    NewmarketPart III Prosecution $1,125June 25, 2021Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136
    KitchenerPart III Prosecution $3,500June 17, 2021Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136
    WindsorPart I Ticket $360June 16, 2021Fail to make records, s. 15(1)
    WindsorPart I Ticket $360June 16, 2021Fail to pay minimum wage, s. 23(1)
    LondonPart I Ticket $360June 14, 2021Fail to produce records or provide assistance, s. 91(8)
    WindsorPart I Ticket $360June 4, 2021Fail to make records, s. 15(1)
    WindsorPart I Ticket $360June 4, 2021Fail to pay minimum wage, s. 23(1)

    May 2021

    There were no convictions reported for May 2021.

    April 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    11384384 Canada CorpWindsorPart I Ticket$355.00April 19, 2021Fail to give wage statement within time allowed after employment ends, section 12.1
    11384384 Canada CorpWindsorPart I Ticket$355.00April 19, 2021Fail to make records, section 15(1)
    2379519 Ontario IncWindsorPart I Ticket$355.00April 12, 2021Fail to produce records or provide assistance, section 91(8)
    2379519 Ontario Inc.WindsorPart I Ticket$355.00April 8, 2021Fail to give wage statement within time allowed after employment ends, section 12.1
    2379519 Ontario Inc.WindsorPart I Ticket$355.00April 8, 2021Fail to make records, section 15(1)

    March 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    Royal Workforce Inc.TorontoPart III Prosecution$5,000March 5, 2021Fail to comply with an order to pay under section 103(8), section 132
    9826262 Canada Inc.HamiltonPart I Ticket$360March 17, 2021Fail to make records, section 15(1)
    9826262 Canada Inc.HamiltonPart I Ticket$360March 17, 2021Fail to pay overtime pay, section 22(1)
    9826262 Canada Inc.HamiltonPart I Ticket$360March 17, 2021Fail to give day off with public holiday pay – day ordinarily a working day, section 26(1)
    9826262 Canada Inc.HamiltonPart I Ticket$360March 17, 2021Fail to pay vacation pay, section 35.2
    9826262 Canada Inc.HamiltonPart I Ticket$360March 17, 2021Fail to produce records or provide assistance, section 91(8)

    February 2021

    There were no convictions reported for February 2021.

    January 2021

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    D & T Agency Inc.WindsorPart I Ticket$360January 20, 2021Fail to give wage statement, section 12(1)
    D & T Agency Inc.WindsorPart I Ticket$360January 20, 2021Fail to make records, section 15(1)
    D & T Agency Inc.WindsorPart I Ticket$360January 20, 2021Fail to pay minimum wage, section 23(1)
    1683175 Ontario LimitedSt. CatharinesPart I Ticket$360January 11, 2021Fail to produce records or provide assistance, section 91(8)

    December 2020

    NameCourt locationType of prosecutionFinefootnote 1Conviction dateViolation
    Ryley Spencer SaumureOttawaPart III Prosecution$3,125December 14, 2020Fail to comply with an order to pay under section 103(8), section 132
    Ardis Ranch Inc. o/a Ardis RanchChathamPart I Ticket$360December 22, 2020Fail to pay wages on regular pay day, section 11(1)

    Footnotes

    Updated: June 15, 2022
    Published: April 20, 2022