The Government of Canada is protecting Canadian workers by cracking down on misclassification in the federally regulated road transportation sector with an inspection blitz in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area, in the coming weeks.
Worker misclassification happens when a worker is categorized as an independent contractor when they should be an employee. This is an illegal practice under the Canada Labour Code that strips workers of their rights to minimum wage, paid leaves, and occupational health and safety protections. It also prevents workers from accessing Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. Misclassification also undermines responsible employers who follow the rules, creating unfair competition in the trucking sector.
The blitz will focus on identifying non-compliance with federal labour standards and workplace health and safety requirements. When misclassification is suspected, the Labour Program will follow up with a full investigation and swiftly issue penalties when violations are found.
Information collected during the blitz will be shared with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to support more coordinated enforcement efforts.
Read more in a press release from Employment and Social Development Canada.