News & Updates
Ontario introduces Bill 229 - Working for Workers Six Act, updating Employment Standards Act
January 09, 2025
On December 19, 2024, Ontario’s Bill 229, the sixth in a series of acts updating the Employment Standards Act, 2000, received Royal Assent.
Once in force, the bill makes changes in the following key areas:
- Long-term illness leave: The bill creates a new unpaid job-protected long-term illness leave of up to 27 weeks for employees who are unable to work because of a serious medical condition. This would align with the length of the 26-week Employment Insurance sickness benefit coverage, as well as the one-week waiting period. The new leave can be taken nonconsecutively and is only available to those with at least 13 weeks of employment.
- Placement of a child (adoption or surrogacy) leave: The bill creates a new unpaid job-protected leave of up to 16 weeks for employees welcoming a child into their care through adoption or surrogacy. The length of the leave is designed to align with upcoming changes to the federal Employment Insurance program. This new leave can only be taken consecutively and is only available to those with at least 13 weeks of employment.
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