Labour and Workforce Development

The Langley Chamber opposed the implementation of 5 days of paid sick leave starting on January 1, 2022, calling the middle of the Omicron-wave of COVID-19 the wrong time to impose a new cost on businesses.  Now, this is a permanent cost on business and the Langley Chamber is pushing constantly to avoid increasing this obligation to 10 days.

Since Paid Sick Leave was implemented, to help minimize the negative impact of this government policy on business the Langley Chamber is advocating three key areas in need of improvement with paid sick leave:

• Creating a Mechanism for Partial Sick Days
• Linking Sick Pay to the Amount of Missed Work
• Creating a Greater Days-Worked Requirement

In November 2022, we met with the Deputy Minister of Labour to argue against increasing the required days beyond 5, and to make changes to achieve the above 3 changes.  More > 

In May and June 2022, we have raised this issue with our local MLAs, and engaged directly with the Deputy Minister of Labour to advance the call for these needed reforms.   Read our letter to the DM. 

Langley businessesmust pay payroll taxes for every employee to fund the EI system -- taxes which just increased again.  The EI program has expanded beyond its original role as insurance for temporary job losses, and the Langley Chamber advocates for the program to be limited in scope and the costs controlled so employers are not on the hook for even greater costs.

The EI program accumulated a $27 billion deficit because of COVID and the Langley Chamber is pushing for the federal government to fund this directly, not on the backs of employer and employee premiums.

The EI program is under consistent pressure to be expanded, providing greater benefits, to more people, for longer a duration.  The Langley Chamber supports the EI program's original mandate, but advocates that the program should be maintained and not allowed to create disincentives or barriers to actually returning to the workforce.

• Langley Chamber Meets with federal Employment Minister to Push Back on EI Modernization
  • On January 16, the Langley Chamber, joined by other chambers of commerce from across BC, met with Carla Qualtrough, the federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion to discuss ongoing labour challenges for BC businesses, workforce development opportunities, and to advocate against expansions to the EI program.

    During the meeting and in further communications, the Langley Chamber highlighted the $27.2 billion deficit that the EI program is facing -- driven largely by expansions made to it during the COVID-19 pandemic.   The Langley Chamber urged the Minister to use federal funds to rebalance the program instead of relying on higher premiums on employers.  In addition, the Langley Chamber noted ongoing efforts by the government to expand and modernize the EI program, pushing back on any changes that would increase costs to business at this time.

• Langley Chamber Meets with Commissioner of Employers to Discuss EI Reform
  • Members of the Langley Chamber's Policy Committee and our CEO met with Nancy Healey, the federal Commissioner of Employers at the EI program.  Over an hour, they discussed the rising costs facing businesses, including increasing payroll taxes to fund EI.  The group also explored ways to ensure the EI program is fulfilling its goal, and not exacerbating labour shortages or increasing the financial burden on businesses.

Langley businesses need workers.  Between 2022 and 2032, there will be over 1 million job vacancies, and at current rates over 80,000 of those will go unfilled.  This slows business growth and raises the cost of labour for businesses.   The Langley Chamber is a passionate advocate for skills training, workforce development programs, and improved foreign credential recognition.

• Reboot Plus Program
  • To help youth better connect with the labour force and explore career paths, the Langley Chamber is proud to help bring the Reboot Plus Program to Langley.  The Reboot Plus Program helps youth understand and explore their workforce opportunities, and then connects them with local businesspeople for informational interviews to help set them on the path to join the workforce.  More info >  

• Langley Chamber Meets with Federal Immigration Minister to Discuss Labour Shortage, Business Needs
  • The Langley Chamber raised with the Minister the need for further investment in immigrant integration, to ensure newcomers can fully and successfully join the local labour force and fill the job vacancies in Langley.  The Langley Chamber also pushed for a national leadership role in addressing foreign credential recognition and labour mobility -- making it easier for newcomers to practice their professions in Canada and be able to do so if they move to different provinces.

• Maximizing Taxpayer Dollars on Public Infrastructure Projects and Defending the Rights of BC Companies and Workers 
• Office of the Premier - Marijuana and the Workplace - Ensuring the Safety of Workers and Businesses