Changed recently
- Ontario general minimum wage is now 17.95 CAD/h. Source
- Next scheduled Ontario general minimum wage is now no amount announced; any new rate is published by April 1 and takes effect October 1. Source
- Student minimum wage (under 18, 28 hours or less per week) is now 16.90 CAD/h. Source
- Homeworker minimum wage is now 19.70 CAD/h. Source
- Hunting, fishing and wilderness guide minimum, under five hours in a day is now 89.75 CAD/day. Source
- Hunting, fishing and wilderness guide minimum, five or more hours in a day is now 179.50 CAD/day. Source
Showing all 53 facts
| Fact | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario general minimum wage | 17.95 CAD/h | 2026-10-01 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Minimum wage ✓ 2026-11-05 |
| Next scheduled Ontario general minimum wage | no amount announced; any new rate is published by April 1 and takes effect October 1 | 2026-10-01 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Minimum wage ✓ 2026-11-10 |
| Homeworker minimum wage | 19.70 CAD/h | 2026-10-01 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Homeworkers ✓ 2026-11-05 |
| Platform work: minimum wage for platform work | General minimum wage for each work assignment, or per pay period | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Separate liquor server minimum wage | Abolished; servers get the general minimum wage since January 1, 2022 | 2022-01-01 | ESA Policy and Interpretation Manual, Part IX Minimum Wage ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Student minimum wage (under 18, 28 hours or less per week) | 16.90 CAD/h | 2026-10-01 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Minimum wage ✓ 2026-11-05 |
| Overtime averaging agreements | Written agreement can average hours over up to four weeks | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Overtime pay ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Overtime rate | 1.5 times the regular rate of pay | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Overtime pay ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Overtime threshold | After 44 hours in a work week | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Overtime pay ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Number of ESA public holidays | 9 per year | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Public holidays ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Public holiday pay formula | Regular wages plus vacation pay in the four weeks before, divided by 20 | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Public holidays ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Vacation pay, five or more years of employment | 6% of gross wages | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Vacation ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Vacation pay, under five years of employment | 4% of gross wages | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Vacation ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Vacation time, five or more years of employment | 3 weeks per vacation entitlement year | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Vacation ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Vacation time, under five years of employment | 2 weeks per vacation entitlement year | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Vacation ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Is the meal break paid | Unpaid unless the employment contract requires payment | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Hours of work ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Deductions for cash shortages or lost property | Prohibited unless the employee had sole access and total control | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Payment of wages ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Deductions for faulty work | Prohibited, even with the employee's written authorization | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Payment of wages ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Minimum service before termination notice is owed | Three months of continuous employment | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Termination of employment ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Platform work: notice for removals of 24 hours or more | Two weeks' written notice | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Severance pay amount and cap | One week's regular wages per year of service, maximum 26 weeks | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Severance pay ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Severance pay eligibility | 5+ years of service and employer payroll over $2.5 million | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Severance pay ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Temporary layoff, extended limit | Up to 35 weeks in 52 weeks if benefits or payments continue | 2025-11-27 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Termination of employment ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Temporary layoff, short limit | Up to 13 weeks in any 20 consecutive weeks | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Termination of employment ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Termination notice by length of service | 1 week per year of service, to a maximum of 8 weeks | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Termination of employment ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Digital Platform Workers' Rights Act, 2022 in force | July 1, 2025 | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Platform work: dispute forum | All platform work disputes must be resolved in Ontario | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Platform work: information disclosure within 24 hours of platform access | Operator must give specified information in writing within 24 hours of access | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Platform work: tip protection | Operator cannot withhold or deduct tips except by statute or court order | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Platform work: written reasons before removal | Operator must give a written explanation for removing platform access | 2025-07-01 | Ontario, Rights and protections for digital platform workers ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Workers' compensation (WSIB): coverage for gig and independent contractors | Not covered outside construction; optional insurance can be bought | 2026-09-07 | WSIB, Independent operators ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Workers' compensation (WSIB): deadline for a worker to claim | 6 months from the injury or the diagnosis | 2026-09-07 | WSIB Operational Policy Manual, Workers' Requirement to Claim and Consent ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Workers' compensation (WSIB): mandatory coverage | Most Ontario businesses with employees must register within 10 days of first hire | 2026-09-07 | WSIB, Do you need to register with us ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Employment standards: claim limitation period | 2 years from the contravention | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Filing a claim ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| How to file an ESA claim | Free online claim form with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Filing a claim ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Eating period | 30 minutes after no more than five hours of work | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Hours of work ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Employment standards: burden of proof on employee status | Employer must prove the person is not an employee | 2026-09-07 | ESA Policy and Interpretation Manual, Part III (s. 5.1) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Employment standards: misclassification prohibition | Employer may not treat an employee as a contractor, intern or volunteer | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Employee status ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Employment standards: rights and immigration status | Foreign nationals have the same ESA rights as other Ontario employees | 2026-09-07 | Ontario, Employment rights and obligations for foreign nationals ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Family responsibility leave | 3 unpaid job-protected days per calendar year | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Family responsibility leave ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Holding a worker's passport or work permit | Employers and recruiters may not take or keep the worker's documents | 2026-09-07 | Ontario, Employment rights and obligations for foreign nationals (EPFNA) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Hunting, fishing and wilderness guide minimum, five or more hours in a day | 179.50 CAD/day | 2026-10-01 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Minimum wage ✓ 2026-11-05 |
| Hunting, fishing and wilderness guide minimum, under five hours in a day | 89.75 CAD/day | 2026-10-01 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Minimum wage ✓ 2026-11-05 |
| Medical note for ESA sick leave | Employer cannot require a note from a health practitioner | 2024-10-28 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Sick leave ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Recruiter fees to foreign nationals | Recruiters and employers may not charge any fee or recover costs | 2026-09-07 | Ontario, Employment rights and obligations for foreign nationals (EPFNA) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Reporting a health and safety concern to the Ministry | Call the Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008 | 2026-09-07 | Ontario, Filing a workplace health and safety complaint ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Right to refuse unsafe work | A worker may refuse work they believe is unsafe or violent | 2026-09-07 | Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Part V ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Sick leave eligibility | After two consecutive weeks of employment | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Sick leave ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Sick leave entitlement | 3 unpaid job-protected days per calendar year | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Sick leave ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Statutory probation period | None; ESA notice simply begins at three months of service | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Termination of employment ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Tip pooling | Allowed if redistributed among employees; owner share is limited | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Tips or other gratuities ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Tip protection | Employer cannot withhold, deduct from, or take back tips | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Tips or other gratuities ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Wage statement requirement | Written statement on or before each pay day showing pay period, gross wages and each deduction | 2026-09-07 | Ontario Ministry of Labour, Payment of wages ✓ 2026-09-09 |
iamonmybreak publishes general information for working people. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Rules differ by province and country and change over time; the date at the top of this piece is when we last checked. For your specific case, especially anything involving money you are owed, contact a free community legal clinic or your provincial or territorial labour standards office.