Canada Lags on Worker Benefits
Sep 04, 2008
Most of us are aware that Canada continues to rank as one of the best countries to live in according to United Nations rankings. Although we may no longer take first place, we are always comfortably in the top ten.
However, a new McGill University study indicates that Canada is behind some other countries when it comes to basic worker benefits.
An international study undertaken recently measured Canadian laws and practices against those of 180 other nations in areas including annual paid vacation, maternity leave and breaks for breastfeeding mothers.
Entitled The Work Equity Canada Index, the report found that Canada – as expected – scored well in some areas, such as paid leave to care for sick dependents. But our country did worse in some important other ones.
In almost 90 other nations, workers are guaranteed three weeks of annual paid vacation a year. In Canada, most Canadian workers with a year on the job are guaranteed only two weeks. In some provinces, workers with long service are still only guaranteed just two weeks of vacation.
More than 156 countries provide leave for sick workers, including Canada. However, 81 of them offer full wage replacement. Canada only guarantees 55 percent of insurable income. Furthermore, most provinces and territories only guarantee job protection during leaves of more than 12 days.
The study also found that more than 100 countries provide new mothers in the workforce with full wage replacement during maternity leave. In Canada, most women are only guaranteed 55 percent of their insurable income during maternity leave. Quebec is the exception to this, where women receive 70 to 75 percent of their income.
Over the last number of years, studies have conclusively shown that breastfeeding is beneficial to infants, specifically in its effectiveness at reducing illness. Some 114 countries now have laws guaranteeing women the right to a break in order to breastfeed at work. However, not a single Canadian province guarantees this benefit. Canada does, however, provide leaves with pay for dependents with serious illnesses.
Canadians rightfully take pride in their continued belief that this country is one of the best in the world in which to live. And most indicators validate this perception. But at the same time, we can’t become too complacent with that. As the McGill report has shown, there are some significant areas in which we have some catching up to do.
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