People who have jobs have rights and responsibilities. There are rules about how much money they should receive. There are also rules about how much extra money they should receive if they work more than their usual hours. There are rules about when they can rest, especially on special days that everyone enjoys. There are even rules about how and when a person can quit their job. The Employment Standards program of Manitoba Labour and Immigration makes sure these rules are followed. You can find these rules in the following:

• Employment Standards Code
• Construction and Wage Schedule
• Remembrance Day Guidelines
• Sunday and Holiday Shopping Hours
• Worker Recruitment and Protection

Manitoba Labour and Immigration also looks into complaints about companies that are not following these rules.

Most people who have jobs in Manitoba are protected by this program. But, some are not. These include people who work for the Federal Government, those who work for themselves (self-employed), and some people who work on farms. Other workers like those in construction, those who work part-time at home, landscaper workers, and people election workers have some, but not all, of these rights.

Other laws

There are more rules and programs. They work together with something we call Work Standards. These rules and programs are there to protect your rights. One of these rules is the Employment Equity Act. This rule makes sure that everyone is treated the same way at work. It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter how you look. It doesn’t matter what you can do.

Another rule is the Pay Equity Program. This program makes sure that everyone gets the same amount of money for doing the same job. It doesn’t matter what the job is. The money should be the same if the job is the same.

The Workplace Safety and Health Act keeps your right to a safe and healthy place to work. It means that your place of work should be safe. It should not be bad for your health.

There is also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is a list of your basic rights as a person. It also explains how these rights are kept safe in Canada.

Have your rights been violated?

If you think that someone has not treated you right, or if your boss did not give you the right amount of money, you can speak to an Employment Standards Officer. You can also speak to your union representative. This is only possible if your work place is part of a union. Or, you can make a claim. You can also visit the Manitoba Human Rights Commission or the Canadian Human Rights Commission websites. On these websites, you can complain if you think someone has not treated you fairly because of who you are.
 
Article updated September 15, 2023.