ONTARIO ACTS TO HELP TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS

Telephone Hotline And Fact Sheet To Aid Live–in Caregivers
April 25, 2009

NEWS
A new toll free telephone hotline, outreach team, and information fact sheet will help employees who are part of the federal Live–in Caregiver Program address issues regarding their employment rights.

The Ministry of Labour hotline will provide these employees, often called nannies, with information on their rights under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA). The hotline will be supported by a specially trained team to assist them in filing claims and link them to dedicated investigative officers.

The ESA fact sheet for live–in caregivers provides information on wages, hours of work, overtime pay, and other rights under the ESA. It also explains that employers cannot punish or threaten them for asking for their rights under the ESA.

The measures announced today are part of Ontario’s strategy that will also include introduction of legislation later this year that will, if passed, ban placement fees and begin targeted enforcement of agencies that breach Ontario’s labour laws.

QUOTES
“We are taking action to help protect vulnerable employees who are in Ontario under the federal Live–in Caregiver Program. The new telephone hotline and information fact sheet will assist these employees while we move forward on a made–in-Ontario solution to address broader concerns.”

– Peter Fonseca, Minister of Labour

“Women working in Ontario under the federal Live–in Caregiver Program will now be safer. The hotline and fact sheet will ensure more women know their rights under the law and can take action when their rights aren't being respected.”

– Deb Matthews, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues

QUICK FACTS
The new toll free information hotline will be 1–866–372–3247. The hotline will begin receiving calls on April 27, 2009.

There were approximately 18,000 employees in Ontario in 2007 that were part of the federal Live–in Caregiver Program.

LEARN MORE
Read the new ESA fact sheet for employees in the federal Live–in Caregiver Program
Find out more about the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)