Saskatchewan opens consultation on employment act

Saskatchewan has started consulting with the public in its bid to help ensure health and safety legislation meets the needs of employers and workers in the province.

“Our province has a plan for growth that includes ensuring we have safe and healthy workplaces” said Don Morgan, minister of labour relations and workplace safety. “We want to ensure that the legislation we have supports both employers and employees which is why we are asking the people of Saskatchewan to provide input on the occupational health and safety provisions of the Act.”

Residents can provide their input on the occupational health and safety part of The Saskatchewan Employment Act. The consultation opened on Aug. 16 and will close on Oct. 18, 2021.

The consultation focuses on violence and prevention programs, right to refuse unusually dangerous work, roles of occupational health committees and other relevant matters.

A discussion paper is available to stakeholders here.

Stakeholders and interested citizens can provide their feedback sending an email to [email protected] or writing to Occupational Health and Safety Review, Corporate Services Division under the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety at 300-1870 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4P 4W1.

In June, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) also started looking for input from injured workers and employers as it tries to improve its services for customers.

Previously, Saskatchewan WCB signed new and separate funding agreements with the Saskatchewan Association for Safe Workplaces in Health (SASWH) and Energy Safety Canada that will help them work together to create safer workplaces in the province.