FREE Online Workshop for Migrant Workers

Know Your Rights at Work!

CCESO held a FREE online workshop last October 11, 2020. Some of the questions asked by our fellow Care workers are listed below, and were answered by our hosts.

Workshop Questions
 
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

1. I am still working for my employer, but because of the crisis, I am now working long hours and I am not being paid overtime or for all of the hours I’m working. I am very lucky to still have my job, but I’m scared if I tell my employer about my rights, I will be laid off. What can I do? 
2. My employer is threatening me that if I leave the house to buy groceries or go for a walk, I will be fired. I have been locked up in their house for months. What are my rights in this situation? Why can my employer leave the house, but I can’t? 
3. I want to leave my employer because I am working long hours with only 1 day off. My employer is very demanding and sometimes even the children are verbally abusive. I have been in this job since Sept 2019 and my work permit will expire on Aug 2021. My health is deteriorating but I'm afraid to resign. What should I do?
4. If my employer is mistreating me, what should I do? (i.e. document everything!)
   1. Explain the different areas of abuse (i.e. financial, 
5. Do I have access to sick days or emergency leave? 
6. My employer fired me during COVID-19, what are my rights?
7. Is it legal for the employer to pay our overtime hours with rest days/hours instead of money? What should we do if they are demanding this?
8. I work for a close relative  and she said that our contract is only on paper so she does not pay me regularly. Is this legal? I want to leave because they treat me like a maid

1.  My employer was away for two weeks and I was left alone in the house. They say that was already considered my vacation because I was not doing child care for the children. Am I still entitled for a vacation pay if I want to go away?

INCOME SUPPORTS 

1. Can I get income support if I am laid off due to COVID-19? (i.e. new Canada Response Benefit). What income support can I access now that CERB is over? 
2. My employer reduced my salary, but not my hours of work. They forced me to collect CERB even though I am still working full-time hours for them. Is this right?

MINIMUM WAGE

1. If I am receiving minimum wage, should my wages go up after October 1st?