A need for better working conditions
As members of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Grosche International and the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries support the recommendation in Bill 148 to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by January 2019, and other suggested practices to create better working conditions in Ontario.
Amendments to the bill provide fundamental and necessary changes for Ontario workers and businesses, and these changes go beyond increasing the Ontario minimum wage to $15 an hour. The proposed amendments give workers the dignity to live above the poverty line. The changes to this bill will encourage spending within local communities stimulating the local economy, and enable businesses to compete on fair grounds.
We believe businesses can benefit and grow from these changes. Bill 148 will create increased consumer power, reduce demand on social services, allow for higher productivity and lower employee turnover.
Increasing the minimum wage will generate an additional $5 billion that will go into the pockets of Ontario workers, which will stimulate local economies. Despite competing perspectives, economists have concluded that the $15 minimum wage increase will not negatively impact job creation.
A report from McMaster University also found that almost all businesses that have increased their wages have seen positive effects on both their employees and the economy. Decent wages have the potential to lift Ontario workers above the poverty line while contributing to the growth of local businesses and economy.
The amendments to the bill address several other important components which are critical to improving the well-being of Ontario workers. They allow for additional paid sick days, and hold employers accountable for the mistreatment and misclassification of their workers. Bill 148 will enable employees to take better care of themselves and their families.
These changes can also benefit businesses. Offering a supportive work environment, where workers do not have to choose between their health and a paycheque, can lead to higher productivity and lower employee turnover. Everyone should have a minimum standard of care in the chance they become ill, without the added stress of losing income, or worse, their financial security. Enabling fair work practices we can provide a better standard of living for both employees and employers.
The changes to Bill 148 will enforce fair and just work practices for employers and their workers. We must stand united to ensure that no worker is earning an income below the poverty line. By providing the necessary supports proposed in these amendments, business and their workers will benefit from the work environments they deserve. Anne Coleman, program manager, Living Wage Waterloo Region, Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries