On Monday, Sept. 1, Canadians will celebrate Labour Day, the last long weekend of the summer.
For many, this is a time for camping, recreation, watching football games or travel for students heading to university or college.
However, the day is much more than a long weekend.
Labour Day, a national holiday in Canada, is a time to recognize the contributions of workers and to reflect on the importance of workers’ rights.
Canada has more than 21 million people in its labour force, working in many roles and many industries and professions.
The day has been a national holiday in Canada since 1894, but its origins can be found in a strike from 1872, when striking workers were advocating for a nine-hour work day and a shorter work week.
Over the years, numerous changes to labour laws have occurred.
The first provincial minimum wage laws in Canada were introduced in 1918. Unemployment Insurance (today known as Employment Insurance) began in 1940.
Labour standards limiting the number of hours have been in place since the 1960s.
Legislation is also in place affecting workplace health and safety, including the right of workers to refuse work that could affect their health and safety, and that of others.
These changes are important victories for workers, and they deserve to be celebrated.
At the same time, there are some concerning trends affecting the Canadian workforce.
The national unemployment rate in Canada is 6.9 per cent, and the youth unemployment rate is 14.6 per cent. While these figures are much less severe than the high unemployment rates during the Great Depression in the 1930s and during the recessions of the early 1980s and early 1990s, they cannot be ignored.
Another issue is the growing gap between minimum wage and the cost of living. Minimum wage has increased over the years, but these increases have not kept pace with inflation rates and the rising cost of living. The result is an increased pressure on low-income individuals and families.
Workers in Canada deserve to be celebrated, and the rights enjoyed by workers must be protected.
Labour Day is a day set aside to consider the importance of workers, but the importance of working people in this country needs to be remembered throughout the year.
— Black Press
