Government Told To End Northern OT Exemption

Government Told To End Northern OT Exemption

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 14:56

The provincial government has received a report recommending the northern overtime exemption be removed immediately.

The exemption currently allows employers operating north of Township 62 to deny overtime pay to workers covered under provincial labour standards regulations.

The only exceptions have been workers employed in and around La Ronge, Uranium City and Creighton.

But the MLA who has been studying the issue, Ron Harper, notes Saskatchewan is the only jurisdiction in Canada to have this sort of exemption — and it’s time to end it.

Harper is also recommending that the outfitting industry be exempt from any changes that are made — after hearing strong approval for the current rules from guides.

As well, Harper says it’s high time trappers and commercial fishers be treated as primary producers, like farmers, under The Labour Standards Act.

Premier Lorne Calvert says he is leaning towards accepting Harper’s recommendations, and says a final decision will be made in the next few days or weeks.