Business groups wary of PQ’s three-week vacation pledge

Quebec employer groups are urging the new Parti Québécois government to measure the costs and red tape before it guarantees every worker three weeks of paid vacation, while the province’s largest labour federation called the promise long overdue.

The pledge is part of the PQ’s “Family” platform and was included in the mandate letter to Labour Minister Mathieu Lebrun, according to Le Devoir, which reported employer reaction on Oct. 22. CTV News Montreal also reported the government’s plan on Oct. 24.

Under Quebec’s labour standards, employees are entitled to two weeks of paid vacation after one year of continuous service, rising to three weeks after three years. The PQ’s commitment would set the minimum at three weeks.

The Fédération des travailleurs du Québec welcomed the plan right away. “It’s about time!” the union wrote in a news release, according to Le Devoir. (Quotes translated from French.)

Employers said they have few details. Michelle LLambías Meunier, president and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, said costs must be measured “in terms of pay as well as work organization” before such proposals are made.

François Vincent, Quebec vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the measure could hit small firms and remote regions hardest, particularly retail, hotels and restaurants. He said 53 per cent of Quebec businesses have fewer than five employees, and that a labour shortage makes it harder for them to cover extra time off. “If we add a week of vacation for everyone, where will we find the workers we need?” Vincent said.

Vincent also noted that the government’s new regulatory-relief policy calls for impact analyses on small businesses and a “two-for-one” rule, under which any new requirement must be offset by cutting the cost or number of other requirements. “The government will have homework to do,” he said.

Employer groups said the government has not yet said when the change would take effect or how it would apply.

The pledge is one of several early files for the minority government, which also moved to unlock emergency homelessness funds, as we reported. Our look at the PQ’s first 100 days sets out the other promises, and the new cabinet is described here.

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