The battle over paid holidays for retail workers in Toronto is intensifying as the business lobby pressures the city to allow more retail stores to open on statutory holidays, potentially stripping workers of guaranteed time off. This local issue is part of a much larger fight against the erosion of working conditions across Canada.
Under the current rules in Toronto, certain retail workers are guaranteed paid days off on nine public holidays, including New Year’s Day, Family Day, and Christmas Day. These protections, enshrined in Toronto’s Municipal Code, offer additional benefits over the provincial Employment Standards Act (ESA), ensuring workers cannot be forced to work on these holidays without additional compensation. However, business groups like SmartCentres and Oxford Properties, the owners of Yorkdale and other high-end shopping areas, have lobbied the city since 2023 to lift or reduce these protections, which could affect thousands of workers.
Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, is at the forefront of opposing these changes, arguing that more exemptions for businesses will harm workers’ well-being. Samia Hashi, Unifor’s Ontario regional director, emphasized the importance of maintaining guaranteed time off, allowing workers to spend time with family and engage in community life. “This is about making sure those days off are days they can actually enjoy,” Hashi said.
While the Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act mandates certain retail establishments close on public holidays, Toronto has its own rules that provide even stronger protections. Workers in Toronto’s retail sector cannot be compelled to work on holidays unless their workplace falls under an exemption—such as pharmacies or small businesses—or is in a tourist area like the Eaton Centre or the Distillery District.
Unifor and other workers’ advocates fear that allowing more businesses to operate on public holidays will push down standards across the province, potentially reducing benefits for all workers. “This is a fight taken up by our members who work in retail,” Hashi said. “They’re saying, ‘We have to stand up because they’re coming for our days off.’”
The movement to protect paid holidays also extends beyond just the retail sector. In countries like Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, workers enjoy far more paid public holidays and vacation days than those in Canada, where most provinces guarantee just two or three weeks of vacation annually. In fact, a 2022 study found Canada ranked 39th out of 43 countries for vacation entitlements.
Protecting paid holidays is not just a matter of convenience for workers; it’s vital for their mental health and overall well-being, especially for those in precarious and part-time employment. Hashi highlighted the importance of these days off, especially for workers juggling multiple jobs or unpredictable schedules.
The push to maintain Toronto’s retail holiday rules is part of a larger struggle against the broader deregulation of work in Canada. Since the 1990s, neoliberal policies have sought to make work more flexible for employers, often to the detriment of workers who face longer hours, insecure part-time jobs, and less time to recharge.
As the fight continues, it’s clear that protecting workers’ rights to paid holidays is a crucial step in the broader effort to safeguard decent working conditions for all. This is a struggle worth supporting, not just for Toronto’s retail workers, but for the entire workforce in Canada.
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