The Associations of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services released a statement Wednesday that it supports the Ontario government’s decision to repeal Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act, 2017.

Bill 148 called for a C$15 minimum wage and mandated equal pay for temporary employees, among other things.

“ACSESS is pleased to see this government taking a responsible approach in reforming the rushed Bill 148,” according to the statement. “As the national voice of the C$15 billion recruiting, employment and staffing services industry, ACSESS welcomes the opportunity to work with the Honourable Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour and the Ford government on behalf of our members on new amendments to our Employment Standards Act that protect the interests of workers and business alike.”

ACSESS continued: “We are committed to keeping Ontario competitive in the global market and eager to help shape new legislation built on in-depth stakeholder consultation and evidence-based amendments, backed by cost-benefits analysis. Our members are ready to develop equitable legislation that protects all workers and is upheld by steady enforcement to foster compliance and hold companies accountable for any contraventions.”

The new Ontario government said Bill 148, imposed under the previous government, brought on job-killing red tape.

However, the Ontario Public Services Employees Union opposes doing away with Bill 148 protections.

“No successful business person would ever argue the fact that workers themselves are the bedrock of any successful business or enterprise,” said Warren “Smokey” Thomas, the union’s president. “To this government, workers are now nothing more than ‘red tape’ and a ‘regulatory burden.’”

The Ottawa Citizen newspaper reported that rallies were taking place against the repeal of Bill 148.