LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

 

The vast majority of jobs and economic development in BC is generated from the small and medium sized business sector (SME).  SME currently accounts for 80% of job creation in Canada and their employees represent nearly 50% of all workers in the province.

 

A disincentive to investment and killer of jobs is over-regulation by government of SMEs.  Labour and employment regulations underwent significant changes under the last government.  In most cases, the changes made it more difficult for SMEs to operate and have significantly hindered job creation in BC during that period. 

 

Since 2001 the current government has introduced major legislative reform to the Labour Relations Code, the Employment Standards Act, the Workers' Compensation Act and the Human Rights Code.  These changes, The Chamber believes, help to restore balance to the Employment and Labour legislation in the province and support SMEs in creating jobs and employment opportunities while at the same time ensuring the rights of employees are protected. The changes recognize the need to ensure the economic viability of business enterprises within the province.  While there are many government regulations in this field, the key labour and employment regulations addressed by The Chamber’s Policy and Positions Manual at the provincial level are:

 

·   Labour Relations Code

·   Employment Standards Act

·   Workers Compensation Act

·   Human Rights Code

 

At the federal level, the focus of The Chamber’s Policy and Positions Manual is the Canada Labour Relations Code.

 

The Chamber continues to recommend as a general policy that governments at both the federal and provincial level do not enact any changes that further regulate and restrict SME.  Changes must be adapted to labour and employment legislation that will continue to promote job creation and make it simpler for SMEs to survive and grow. 

 

The changes introduced so far individually and collectively have gone a long way towards supporting SMEs and their employees by introducing flexibility in the workplace.  However, there is still work to be done by the government in all areas of labour and employment reform within the province.  The skills shortages that The Chamber has addressed for many years require further legislative reform.  The opportunities generated by the 2010 Olympics likewise require further review of labour and employment laws within the province to ensure that all British Columbians maximize the employment opportunities that will be generated.

 

The Chamber intends to continue to press for legislative change directly to the government and as a senior and active participant in the Coalition of Small Businesses and the BC Business Council in pursuing changes to labour and employment legislation that will assist SMEs to cope with the ever changing economic needs of the province.