Ontario workers urgently need paid sick days, predictable schedules, and equal pay for equal work as the province prepares to release its recommendations for employment law reform, advocates say.

The final proposals from the so-called Changing Workplaces Review are expected in May, following roughly two years of public forums, research, and consultations aimed at identifying how government should respond to what critics call the crisis of precarious work.

“With the budget coming up this week, it’s time for Ontario to take updating its employment and labour laws off the back burner,” said Chris Buckley, head of the Ontario Federation of Labour, at a news conference Tuesday.

“A strong economy must be built on decent jobs.”

In a statement, Minister of Labour spokesperson Michael Speers said the government was creating a “framework for an economy focused on decency for workers and fairness for families.”

“Ontario workers want us to get this done right, rather than just quickly,” he said.

“By protecting Ontarians and giving them the tools to adapt to the modern workplace, we will make sure Ontario remains a place where everyone is able to reach their full potential, where everyone can prosper, and where everyone is supported.”

Key areas of action, advocates said Tuesday, include making it easier for workers to join unions, eliminating exemptions in current employment laws that mean some workers are not eligible for even basic rights, and ensuring temp agency, part-time and casual employees get equal pay for equal work.

They also called for mandatory paid sick days and predictable schedules in all workplaces, and making more Ontarians eligible for protection under the Employment Standards Act by expanding the definition of “employee.”

As previously highlighted by the Star, critics say many workers are currently misclassified by their bosses as independent contractors — a category that has no protection under the act.

Deena Ladd, head of the Toronto-based Workers’ Action Centre, said Thursday’s budget needs to reflect the government’s intentions on precarious work.

“What we are wanting to see from the budget is a clear indication that Kathleen Wynne is serious about labour law reform and issues of poverty facing workers,” she said.

“They have the majority right now, they have the power to put in legislation and fulfill their mandate to address precarious work.”

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has urged government to ensure any employment law reforms do not unduly limit businesses’ flexibility and economic growth, and has called for “evidence-based” modernization.

“With respect to claims that there has been an unprecedented spike in the number of people holding multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet, the evidence is non-supportive,” the group said in its submission to government, citing Statistics Canada data.

Worker advocates argue the decline in work quality has been well documented in recent years, including in research conducted by McMaster University, which suggests that 52 per cent of jobs in the GTA are now insecure.

“The government has been examining the problem of precarious work for years and the results are clear,” Buckley said. “There is no reason for Ontario to leave workers suffering under outdated employment laws.”