1. Find out about your basic rights
Question & Answer
What if an employer wants me to sign a contract?The (ESA) has minimum standards that employers must follow. But not all jobs are covered by the ESA, and in some cases only parts of the ESA apply.
Find out what minimum standards apply to your job. For example, in most jobs you get at least 30 minutes off after every 5 hours of work.
Use the Ministry of Labour’s online tool called Industries and Jobs with Exemptions or Special Rules to find out if your job is covered by the ESA and which parts of the ESA apply.
You can also call the Ministry’s Employment Standards Information Centre at 1-800-531-5551, 416-326-7160, or 1-866-567-8893 (TTY).
Some industries are covered by federal laws. These are laws made by the Government of Canada and they apply throughout the country. These industries include banks, airlines, some trucking businesses, and broadcasting. The Government of Canada website has a more complete list.
Employers in these industries must follow the Canada Labour Code.
