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Equal Benefits for Part Time Workers

2001:04PU REITERATION AND UPDATE OF EXISTING POLICY: EQUAL BENEFITS FOR PART-TIME WORKERS

Whereas:

  • The National Council of Women of Canada’s Policy 86.2 stated that part-time workers, who are the fastest-growing segment of the labour force, receive considerably fewer benefits than full-time workers.
  • Policy 86.2 adopted the principle of full protection, rights, and benefits to all types of part-time workers, urging the Government of Canada to amend the Canada Labour Code and requesting Provincial Councils to amend their provincial labour standards legislation.
  • The lack of benefits for part-time workers leads to long-term severe consequences for individuals, families, and Canadian society.
  • The majority of part-time workers are women, and Canada has agreed to implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
  • The Canada Labour Code applies only to federal employees, leaving all other workers under provincial or territorial labour standards legislation.

RESOLVED

That the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as its policy:

  1. Full protection, rights, and benefits for all types of part-time workers.
  2. Economic equality for women, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

That the NCWC urge the Government of Canada to:

  1. Define and regulate various types of work in legislation and regulation, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract work.
  2. Amend the Canada Labour Code to ensure all types of part-time workers receive equal protection, rights, and benefits (on a pro-rated basis) as full-time workers.
  3. Honor the 1985 commitment to economic equality for women, as renewed at the Conference of First Ministers in 1989 based on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women.

That the NCWC urge Provincial and Local Councils to:

  1. Define and regulate various types of work, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract work.
  2. Amend provincial labour standards legislation to ensure all types of part-time workers receive equal protection, rights, and benefits (on a pro-rated basis) as full-time workers.