Employment standards claim and Employment Standards Information Centre (Ontario Ministry of Labour)

The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development lets workers file a claim when an employer breaks the Employment Standards Act, for example by not paying wages, vacation pay or public holiday pay, denying a leave, or punishing you for using your rights. Its Employment Standards Information Centre answers questions about your rights by phone.

Program in Ontario-wide. Legal help Money, grants & charity

When: Generally you must file within two years of the problem (three and a half years for a claim under the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act).

How to reach them

1. Go to their application form.
2. Say who you are and what you are offering or asking.
3. Come back here and tell us if they answered.

Other ways, if that one is quiet

• PhoneGo to the phone line
  It workedNo answer

• PDF claim form to fax (1-888-252-4684) or mailPDF claim form to fax (1-888-252-4684) or mail
  It workedNo answer

• PhoneCall 1-800-531-5551
  It workedNo answer

Where else they are

Their website is ontario.ca/.../filing-claim.

Good to know

• For whomWorkers in Ontario who believe their employer broke their rights under the Employment Standards Act. You cannot file if you already took court action against your employer for the same issue, or if you are represented by a union and covered by a collective agreement.
• LanguagesEnglish, French, Many languages by phone
• Their stepsFor questions about your rights, call the Employment Standards Information Centre at 1-800-531-5551 or 416-326-7160 (TTY 1-866-567-8893), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available in many languages. File your claim online from the Filing a claim page on ontario.ca, generally within two years of the problem. Or fill out the PDF claim form and fax it to 1-888-252-4684, or mail it to the Provincial Claims Centre, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, 70 Foster Drive, Suite 410, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 6V4. Claims are investigated in the order they arrive. Most go to an early resolution officer first; an employment standards officer may then investigate, give a written decision and take enforcement action if needed. Your employer is not allowed to punish you for using your rights.

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