Employment standards enforcement statistics
Enforcement overview
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) 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 April 28, 2023.
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 2022–23 were:
- payment of wages
- vacation pay/vacation time
- termination pay
- public holidays/public holiday pay
- overtime pay
Below are the most recent claim investigation numbers from 2023 to 2018.
| Fiscal year (April 1–March 31) | Claim investigations |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 11,718 |
| 2021–22 | 8,807 |
| 2020–21 | 11,200 |
| 2019–20 | 18,965 |
| 2018–19 | 22,434 |
Inspections
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, 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 2022–23 were:
- public holidays/public holiday pay
- overtime pay
- vacation pay/vacation time
- minimum wage
- payment of wages
Below are the most recent inspection numbers from 2023 to 2018.
| Fiscal year (April 1 – March 31) | Inspections completed |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 788 |
| 2021–22 | 215 |
| 2020–21 | 252 |
| 2019–20 | 2,490 |
| 2018–19 | 2,345 |
Prosecutions
When individual employers and corporations fail to comply with the ESA and its regulations, MLITSD may prosecute due to non-compliance.
Below are the most recent prosecution numbers from 2023 to 2018.
| Fiscal year (April 1–March 31) | Part I tickets issued | Part III prosecutions initiated | Total prosecutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 33 | 5 | 38 |
| 2021–22 | 22 | 12 | 34 |
| 2020–21 | 21 | 2 | 23 |
| 2019–20 | 10 | 37 | 47 |
| 2018–19 | 29 | 50 | 79 |
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 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
December 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miakouchkina Aksana | Brampton | Part III Prosecution | $6,250.00 | December 13, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
| Miakouchkine Gregori | Brampton | Part III Prosecution | $3,750.00 | December 13, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
| 1764353 Ontario Ltd. o/a Ontario Disability | Brampton | Part III Prosecution | $5,000.00 | December 13, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
November 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mota Octavio | Burlington | Part III Prosecution | $5,000.00 | November 25, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
October 2022
There were no convictions reported for October 2022.
September 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Lowe Enterprises Inc | St. Catharines | Part III Prosecution | $6,875.00 | September 9, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
August 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkhill Meats Limited | London | Part I Ticket | $355.00 | August 4, 2022 | Fail to pay minimum wage, s. 23(1) |
July 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dibiase Giuseppe | Brampton | Part III Prosecution | $2,500 | July 4, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
June 2022
There were no convictions reported for June 2022.
May 2022
There were no convictions reported for May 2022.
April 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arellano Alejandro C | Burlington | Part III Prosecution | $1,875.00 | April 5, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
| Arellano Alejandro C | Burlington | Part III Prosecution | $3,125.00 | April 5, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
| Arellano Alejandro C | Burlington | Part III Prosecution | $5,000.00 | April 5, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
| Tateishi Arthur R | Orangeville | Part I Ticket | $355.00 | April 4, 2022 | Fail to produce records or provide assistance, s. 91(8) |
March 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $3,750.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $3,750.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $2,500.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Novita Wellness Institute Ltd | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $1,125.00 | March 22, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Santina Calidonna | Toronto | Part III Prosecution | $18,750 | March 22, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s.106, s.136 |
| Argo Employment Agency Corp | London | Part I Ticket | $355.00 | March 28, 2022 | Fail to give wage statement within time allowed after employment ends, s. 12.1 |
| Argo Employment Agency Corp | London | Part I Ticket | $355.00 | March 28, 2022 | Fail to make records, s. 15(1) |
February 2022
There were no convictions reported for February 2022.
January 2022
| Name | Court location | Type of prosecution | Fine | Conviction date | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Ethbert Abel O/A Beautifil DYN | London | Part III Prosecution | $875.00 | January 24, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Des Gibb & Professional Corporation | Kitchener | Part III Prosecution | $31,250.00 | January 21, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| The Grand Olympia Inc | Hamilton | Part III Prosecution | $10,000.00 | January 20, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Snap Tax & Accounting Inc | Newmarket | Part III Prosecution | $1,875.00 | January 14, 2022 | Fail to comply with an order to pay under s. 103(8), s. 132 |
| Bono Rosa | Newmarket | Part III Prosecution | $610.00 | January 14, 2022 | Failing as a director to comply with an order to pay under s. 106, s. 136 |
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Includes a victim fine surcharge imposed by the court as required by the Provincial Offences Act.