Canada’s Social Security Court sided with six workers, supported by Mouvement Action-Chômage de Montréal, saying it was up to the federal government to correct the situation.
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January 12, 2022 • 12 minutes ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
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A court has ruled that some provisions of Canada’s Employment Insurance Act violate the equality rights guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for female workers on maternity leave whose jobs have been abolished.
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Several workers who lost their jobs during maternity leave applied for regular employment insurance benefits, but were denied because they had not accumulated enough working hours during the reference period, when they were on leave.
The Canadian Social Security Tribunal sided with six workers, supported by Mouvement Action-Chômage de Montréal, who complained that the law discriminated against them because of their pregnancy. The court concluded that it is up to the federal government to correct the situation and allow women on maternity leave to have the same benefits as others who lose their jobs.
Kim Bouchard, Mouvement Action-Chômage’s lawyer on the case, said she was happy with the decision, calling it a major victory for women’s rights.
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Reference-montrealgazette.com