Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
September 12, 2016

Supporting a Strong Workforce

Minister Byrne Comments on Meeting of Canadian Labour Ministers

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, attended the September 9 annual meeting of ministers responsible for labour in British Columbia to discuss labour standards and approaches, mental health in the workplace, flexible work arrangements, and employment and labour laws. MaryAnn Mihychuk, federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, co-chaired the meeting.

"The meeting was my first opportunity as a minister of labour to sit face-to-face with Minister Mihychuk and other ministers of labour on the national stage and share Newfoundland and Labrador's point of view. We had meaningful discussions and cooperative exchanges about improving mental health in the workplace, finding the right balance to better support workers, and meeting the needs of employers given the changing nature of work."
- The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Along with examining the issue of workplace mental health, ministers expressed interest in contributing to the development of a coordinated national action plan on post-traumatic stress disorder and also discussed the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Strategy on Canada and the International Labour Organization. Building on last year's ratification of Convention 138 on Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, they agreed to continue to work together towards ratification of Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining.

"We are making great progress in finding national solutions to the local challenges we are all facing. I want to ensure residents that through our renewed focus in the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, we are addressing the needs of individuals, communities and employers throughout the province as we focus on building a strong future for labour in Newfoundland and Labrador."
- Minister Byrne

The annual meeting of ministers responsible for labour provides a key forum to discuss public policies and explore opportunities for cooperation on joint projects and labour initiatives. For more information, visit www.caall-acalo.org/en .

QUICK FACTS

• The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, attended the annual meeting of ministers responsible for labour in Prince George, British Columbia, on September 9.
• The meeting gave an opportunity to discuss labour standards and approaches, mental health in the workplace, flexible work arrangements, and employment and labour laws.
• Established in 1938, the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation is an association of federal, provincial and territorial departments of labour and heads of occupational health and safety agencies.
• For more information on the labour market, follow Twitter at @AESL_GovNL , and visit the Provincial Government's Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism at www.facebook.com/nlimmigration .

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2016 09 12                              4:35 p.m.