What are your greatest concerns about workers' rights in Canada? Is it whether your immigration status as a newcomer is a factor? Are you worried about age or racial discrimination? Is it about holiday pay or overtime work? Or whether you could join a union?
Check out pp. 3 - 6 of this document.1. Enjoy doing the listening activities there.
Listen for the main ideas (Total time: 3:47)
A. Listen to the talk. Check off the main ideas as you hear them.
□ a. All workers have rights, including workers who are new to Canada.
□ b. There are laws about workers’ rights in Ontario.
□ c. There are human rights laws against discrimination in the workplace.
□ d. Employers have to try to remove barriers that discriminate against workers.
□ e. Workers may need to get legal help if their employer or a co-worker treats
them unfairly or doesn’t respect their rights.
□ f. Unemployed workers may be able to get Employment Insurance benefits.
□ g. Workers’ rights may vary in different provinces and territories in Canada.
a, b, d, e
B. Check your answers with another student. Were there any ideas you
didn’t hear addressed? What ideas did you hear that you want to know
more about?
Listen for details (Total time: 3:47)
A. Listen to the first section of the talk. (0:00 – 0:38)
Apply the information in the talk to the following situations. Do these workers have
rights? How do you know?
1. Abel just started his job two weeks ago. __________________________________
2. Wen is not a Canadian citizen. _________________________________________
3. Zhiling is not a permanent resident. _____________________________________
4. Anissa lives with a family and works as their nanny. ________________________
5. Noureen works part-time. ____________________________________________
1. What kinds of workers’ rights laws are there in Ontario? Number the items listed
below in the order in which you hear them. Not all of the items in the list will be
mentioned.
___ minimum wage
___ the kinds of questions an employer can ask you before they hire you
___ what you can do if you’re fired or treated so badly that you are forced to quit
___ what to wear to an interview
___ time off from work
___ vacation pay
___ hours of work
___ holiday pay
___ how to get a raise
___ health and safety in the workplace
1.the kinds of questions an employer can ask you before they hire you
2. hours of work
3. minimum wage
4. vacation pay
5. holiday pay
6. time off from work
7. health and safety in the workplace
8. what you can do if you’re fired or treated so badly that you are forced to quit
2. Are the laws the same for every kind of job? Circle the correct answer.
a. Yes
b. No
c. The speaker doesn’t say.
d. It’s not important.
Where might you be able to get help to find out about your rights? Circle the
correct answer.
a. unions
b. community agencies
c. legal clinics
d. all of the above
C. Listen to the third section of the talk. (1:17 – 1:37)
What reasons for discrimination are mentioned? Fill in the ones that are missing
from the list.
• race or ethnic background
• religion
• age
• disability
• sex
• sexual orientation
• pregnancy or because you have children
D. Listen to the fourth section of the talk. (1:38 – 2:16)
This section gives examples of ways that employers must try to remove barriers that
discriminate against workers. Which of the following is not included as an example?
Circle it.
1. You have the right to come back to your job, or a similar job, after a pregnancy
leave.
2. If you need to celebrate a religious holiday, your employer might have to let you
take time off.
3. If you have a vision disability, your employer might have to provide you with
reading materials in an alternative format.
4. Because of your health, your employer might need to let you sit while you work.
2. Discuss whether the publisher is reliable.
