Digital platform workers, or members of the ‘gig economy,’ represent an ever-growing portion of the modern workforce and pose a unique challenge for legislative protection. They are not traditionally subject to collective bargaining agreements, and often, their status as independent contractors, rather than employees, presents additional challenges to conventional employment law protections. As such, they can face unstable working conditions, do not fit neatly or clearly within employment standards structures or regular employer pay and benefit mechanisms, and may find their complaints unresolved or only resolved through more costly adjudication for employers. More Canadian employers are addressing these issues and concerns, as data shows that as many as one in five Canadians currently work in the gig economy, a number that is predicted to increase.
In response to these gaps in legislative structures and the gig economy, Ontario passed the Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act (the “DPWRA”) in 2022. This legislation seeks to ameliorate the growing issues surrounding digital platform workers and will come into effect on July 1, 2025. This article highlights the key aspects of this new legislation.
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