Core Insights - The enforcement of basic employment rights in Ontario has significantly declined, with charges under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) dropping by 90% over the past decade [1][2] - In 2015, over 1,500 charges were filed under the ESA, while only 150 charges were recorded from April 2024 to March 2025, indicating a severe reduction in legal actions [2] - A quarter of the charges filed in the last year were withdrawn due to court backlogs and delays, leading to cases being dismissed under the Supreme Court's Jordan limits [2] Employment Standards Act (ESA) Overview - The ESA establishes minimum wage rates and workplace regulations, including vacation pay, overtime rules, and protections against wage theft [4][5] - The act applies to nearly all workplaces, providing a foundational legal framework for employment contracts [5] - The lack of enforcement undermines the effectiveness of these regulations, as they are not actionable without proper legal backing [5] Government Actions and Criticism - The Ford government is criticized for failing to enforce basic employment standards, with claims that it prioritizes other issues over worker protections [3][4] - The government has introduced multiple iterations of the Working for Workers Act but has not effectively addressed the enforcement of existing employment laws [4] - Critics argue that the government's focus on unrelated issues, such as speed cameras, detracts from its responsibility to protect workers, particularly those in precarious employment situations [5]