The provincial government says amendments to the Saskatchewan Employment Law will go into effect on January 1.
An amendment to the law states that students, volunteers, and freelancers will now be protected against any form of harassment in the workplace, including sexual harassment.
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According to the Ministry of Labor Relations and Safety at Work, the legislation clarifies that the definition of harassment includes “any unwanted action of a sexual nature.”
“This legislation will ensure that contract workers, students and volunteers can go to work without concerns about exposure to harassment,” stated Minister of Labor Relations and Safety at Work, Don Morgan.
“We want to protect all workers from harassment and create safe and healthy workplaces.”
An additional amendment to the law includes removing the requirement that the Labor Relations Board exclude supervisory employees from the same bargaining unit that supervises them, unless the employer and the union have participated in an irrevocable election.
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Instead, the ministry said, the board will have authority to determine the appropriate bargaining unit, which may include a unit comprised only of supervisors.
“Transitional provisions have been included authorizing the board to hear requests from employers or unions to amend existing certification orders that exclude bargaining unit supervisors,” the government said in a statement Monday.
Another amendment will see public and private sector employers receive protection when they comply with new COVID-19 vaccination regulations.
The amendment will provide employees the option to show evidence of being fully vaccinated or evidence of a negative COVID-19 test at least every seven days.
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