Resource Center

Precarious employment is on the rise in the Ontario labour market. Recent immigrants, those with uncertain and precarious immigration status, racialized persons and women are over-represented in these situations, and certain workers are far more vulnerable to employer exploitation and abuse. The resulting report paints a compelling portrait of their experiences in the workplace. It highlights the routine and pervasive violations of Employment Standards and Occupational Health and Safety Acts by restaurant employers, and is an urgent call to action for all stakeholders concerned including governments, labour organizations and community groups. The report is based on a survey of 184 workers of Chinese descent employed in restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area between January 2013 and March 2016.