Non-unionized workers in Quebec, particularly those who come from abroad to work in the fields during the summer, now have access to new resources and training in occupational health and safety.
Concretely, organizations that help the most vulnerable workers can now obtain funding to offer training in this area, which was not always possible before. This measure affects foreign workers, but also young people, women and older workers.
To achieve this, the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, had to revise his update to the Occupational Health and Safety Act adopted in 2021. The relaxations have just come into force.
In recent months, Mr. Boulet had been approached by groups demanding the addition of resources for non-unionized workers, namely the Union of Injured or Sick Workers (UTTAM), the Immigrant Workers Centre (CTI), the Intervention Council for Women’s Access to Work (CIAFT) and the Quebec Migrant Agricultural Workers Assistance Network (RATTMAQ).
The latter said they observed on the ground that workers were unaware of their rights and were reluctant to defend themselves for fear of losing their jobs, Radio-Canada revealed in April.
The Minister of Labour has since decided to review the eligibility criteria for training funded by the Commission des normes de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST): organizations will have access to it “even if their mission does not only concern health and safety at work,” his ministry said in a press release.
More details will follow.
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