2025 May – OEA Newsletter
Welcome to the Office of the Employer Adviser (OEA) Spring 2025 Newsletter. Important changes continue in the workplace safety and insurance system – staying informed is key! Topics covered in this newsletter:
WSIB’s Review on Foreign Agricultural Workers
Ontario fruit and vegetable growers employ approximately 20,000 seasonal and temporary foreign workers through the government-regulated Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and the agricultural stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program every year
About Us
Experienced professionals who can help with WSIB:, claims management, return to work and re-employment, hearings and appeals, reporting an accident, answer questions about premiums, independent operator issues, negotiation and mediation
WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence Program
The WSIB launched its Health and Safety Excellence Program (HSEp) in 2019 to help employers create healthier and safer workplaces. Active participation in the HSEp may result in premium rebates for Schedule 1 employers and non-financial recognition in the form of digital achievement badges for both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 employers.
2023 November E-bulletins
The WSIB has announced the premium rates for 2024. The average premium rate will stay at $1.30 per hundred dollars of insurable payroll in 2024. Fifteen classes/subclasses have had their premium rate increase, eighteen classes/subclasses have had their premium rate decrease, and two subclass rates remain unchanged from last year.
Section 50 Unlawful Reprisals
July 23, 2026 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Join our Free Webinar
Understanding the reprisal provisions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act is critical for employers. Section 50 applications can be challenging to navigate, particularly because the legislation places a reverse onus on employers to prove that a reprisal did not occur.
Join our experienced legal team for a free webinar providing an overview of the Section 50 unlawful reprisal process before the Ontario Labour Relations Board, along with practical strategies to help employers respond effectively and avoid costly mistakes.
Topics will include:
• The unlawful reprisal application process, including key forms and filings
• Proactive employer strategies for defence and effective response
• Key decisions and insights from workplace reprisal cases
• Potential consequences including operational disruption, financial penalties and liability
Our team has extensive expertise in Section 50 unlawful reprisal matters and can support and represent employers throughout the process.