The country’s federal labour authority is giving Canada Post until the end of this month to fix its COVID-19-related Canada Labour Code contraventions, according to a recent report from the Toronto Star.
A federal directive obtained by the Star shows a senior investigator with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) conducted an “off-site” inspection on Jan. 27. The investigator found Canada Post contravened federal labour laws by failing to notify the ESDC after becoming aware of a potential outbreak, according to the Star.
“Canada Post also failed to submit an investigation report into a ‘hazardous occurrence’ as required by law, after the first cases of its employees testing positive for the virus on Jan. 5,” reads the March 3 Star report.
More than 300 workers tested positive for COVID-19 and one died during the ensuring outbreak at Canada Post’s Mississauga plant, where more than 4,500 people work.
In a statement, Canada Post said it reports all COVID-19 cases to the local health unit; however, “federally regulated employers like the postal service must also investigate workplace illnesses and report their findings under the Canada Labour Code,” according to the Star.