The Fair Wage Office administers the Fair Wage Policy that prohibits the City from doing business with contractors and suppliers who discriminate against their workers. The Office investigates complaints and takes enforcement action when it is determined that a contractor has failed to pay its workers the prescribed hourly wage rates, vacation and holiday pay and applicable amount for fringe benefits shown in the current fair wage schedule.
The City of Toronto requires that wages paid to workers on City contracts meet the requirements of the Fair Wage Policy, as applied by City contracts and labour trade contractual obligations in the construction industry as legislated by the province of Ontario.
The policy covers five construction sectors – industrial, construction, institutional (ICI); roads; sewer and water main construction; heavy construction; utilities construction and other non-construction services such as purchase of garments, security, cleaning services, clerical etc. Fair wages are a worker's right.
First implemented in 1893, the Fair Wage Policy ensures that contractors doing work for the City paid their workers the union rates or, for non-union workers, the prevailing wages and benefits in their field, and requires compliance with acceptable number of working hours and conditions of work, in order to protect workers' rights.
The Fair Wage Policy is intended to:
- produce stable labour relations with minimal disruptions
- compromise between the wage differentials of organized and unorganized labour
- create a level playing field in competition for City work
- set standards in the workplace that contractors must meet
- protect the public and guard workers from exploitation
- enhance the reputation of the City for fair and ethical business dealings
The City investigates complaints and takes enforcement action when it is determined that a contractor has failed to pay its workers the prescribed hourly wage rates, vacation and holiday pay and applicable amount for fringe benefits shown in the current fair wage schedule.
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For clarification about labour trade jurisdictions, contact the Fair Wage Office at 416-392-7300 or fairwage@toronto.ca.
Fair Wage Schedules
The fair wage schedules are updated and recommended to Council for approval every three years based on discussions and endorsement by employee and employer groups, associations, construction unions, organizations and City operating divisions. . Below are the most recent schedules.
Contact us
For more information about the Fair Wage Policy and schedules contact:
Mark Piplica, Manager
Fair Wage Office
Phone: 416-392-7300
Fax 416-392-0801
E-mail: fairwage@toronto.ca
