What Counts as 'Work' Under Federal Labour Law?
Official title: The definition of "work" and the use of section 107 in the Canada Labour Code
A parliamentary committee is studying how "work" is defined in the Canada Labour Code. This matters because the definition affects who gets overtime pay, rest periods, and other protections. Section 107 lets the government exempt certain work from standard rules—the committee wants to know if that power is being used fairly.
Why This Matters
Work in a federally regulated industry? Think banks, airlines, telecom, or interprovincial trucking. How your employer defines your "work" hours affects your paycheque. If you're on call, travelling for work, or doing prep time, this study could change whether you get paid for it.
What Could Change
Parliament could amend the Canada Labour Code to clarify what counts as compensable work time. The committee might recommend limiting when section 107 exemptions can be used, potentially expanding overtime and rest period protections for federally regulated workers.
Key Issues
- How should 'work' be defined for calculating hours, overtime, and rest periods?
- Is section 107 being used appropriately to exempt workers from standard protections?