posted 28 January 2005 07:11 PM
I believe we had an older thread about this in the Saskatchewan forum, but I wanted to revive the discussion of this issue here. The Saskatchewan NDP government is introducing rather novel and I think valuable legislation to combat underemployment by requiring large employers of part-time workers to offer extra working hours to current employees, on the basis of seniority, before hiring new workers. This doesn't really sound all that controversial to me, it is the typical practice in many unionized workplaces including unionized retail grocery stores which employ a ton of part-timers these days. But according to CanWest Global, the business community is getting all fired up in opposition to this proposed law. Small business owners say they don't want to be "micromanaged by the Government," even though the law only applies to businesses with more than fifty employees.
Well boo frickin hoo is what I say. I don't really see this legislation costing employers much at all, I mean they're only required to make an offer of extra hours, they're not required to leave hours unfilled if their current employees don't want to take it. Like I pointed out above, many businesses do this already. I think what the business owners are really afraid of is any encroachment on their unimpeded god-given right to total control of the shop floor and who is on it at all times. And my suggestion to them is that they get over it. I'd like to see more jurisdictions implement these kind of laws.
From: Iron City | Registered: Apr 2001
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lonecat
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5460
posted 29 January 2005 05:12 AM
What is interesting about this debate, is that it appears the Calvert Government is already buckling to the business community on this issue. For example, the original legislation exempts businesses with fewer than 10 employees. However, in the guidelines released early in the new year, that threshold has now been raised to 50 employees.
I am not 100% sure the Calvert Government will follow through with proclaiming MAH. But I could be wrong - we shall see.
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posted 28 January 2005 07:11 PM
