The Leamington District Chamber of Commerce is hearing a wave of concern from business owners over the prospect of rising labour costs.
The province is set to roll out changes to employment standards, including an increased minimum wage, after the government held a labour review. The minimum wage is set to be increased to $15 by 2019.
As heard on CTV Windsor, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce is holding a number of information sessions as a result of the proposed changes — the latest held in Leamington at the Best Western on Wednesday.
Karl Baldauf is the Vice President of Policy and Government Relations with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
He says the planned labour changes are coming at businesses far too quickly.
"These changes are too much too fast and notwithstanding the intent which is to help people, to help them have a living wage — these changes are so significant that businesses are going to have to struggle to adjust and that will have negative impacts like increased cost for everyday goods and services and, in many cases, job losses," says Baldauf.
Patel Dharmesh is the General Manager of the Quality Inn hotel in Leamington.
He feels the labour changes will mean job losses.
"Think what you're going to start seeing is that a lot of people are going to start losing jobs because in order for us to pay the employees that do work and are hard workers, we're going to have to let the ones go that don't do the work, that don't deserve that wage," says Dharmesh.
Ontario PC MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, Rick Nicholls, says the minimum wage increase has both employers and employees worried.
"Small business owners are very concerned at what the additional cost will be," says Nicholls. "Employees are very, very concerned about their livelihood and about maintaining the job that they currently have."
Other proposed changes include improved vacation and personal-leave benefits as well as stricter scheduling as employers would have to pay workers for at least three hours when a shift is cancelled.
Canadian grocery and drug store giant Loblaw reported on Wednesday minimum wage increases in Ontario and Alberta is expected to add $190-million to its bottom line in 2018.