As part of the omnibus bill, the Ontario government will require menstrual supplies to be placed at the sites of major construction projects in the province. The bill is expected to be passed on May 6.
Labor Minister David Picchini said the condition will apply to construction projects that employ 20 or more workers and will last for at least three months.
The Working for Workers Bill, the fifth installment of the government’s cluster labor law, requires employers to keep washrooms clean and hygienic at construction sites and other workplaces. Along with this, the cleaning information should also be stored.
In a press release issued on May 6, the government said the legislation, the first in Canadian history, will facilitate women’s access to skilled occupations and help women work.
At a press conference on the morning of May 6, Picchini said the government’s ambitious plans to build Ontario must work harder. But without more women we will have one hand tied behind our backs and I can’t let that happen.
According to the government, one in ten construction workers is a woman. Half of respondents to the 2020 Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen Survey said construction sites need improved washrooms to make the construction industry more attractive to women.
In addition to the definitions of workplace harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace, which are given in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the issue of virtual harassment is also included in the bill. The bill also promises to engage with victims of harassment, legal experts and stakeholders to create legal and ethical obligations for employers to address workplace misconduct issues.
