Manitoba’s new employment standards code takes effect May 1

WINNIPEG (March 29) — New rules designed to clarify the rights and obligations of Manitoba employers and their workers will take effect on May 1, according to Labour Minister Mike Radcliffe.

The new Employment Standards Code, enacted in June 1998, consolidates the Employment Standards Act, the Vacations with Pay Act, and the Payment of Wages Act. It streamlines and clarifies standards in areas such as minimum wages, hours of work, statutory holidays, vacations with pay, termination of employment, and maternity leave, Radcliffe said.

“This is part of an ongoing effort to make provincial law easier to understand and administer while preserving the existing rights and obligations of employees and employers,” Radcliffe said.

The previous legislation dated back some 40 years and featured provisions that were deemed outdated, redundant, or inconsistent.

In general, the new rules will consolidate and streamline existing regulations that relate to minimum wages, deductions for meals and lodging, work breaks and information to be provided to employees.

Some improvements and benefits of the new code:

> Enforcement mechanisms have been enhanced, allowing the Employment Standards Branch to protect and collect unpaid wages legally owed to employees by employers.

> It clarifies that overtime can be banked as long as it is banked at time and a half.

> The issue of when and how much vacation time and vacation pay an employee is to be given is greatly simplified.