Hamilton East MPP Paul Miller’s initiative to protect worker benefits, severance and vacation pay took an important step forward at the Ontario Legislature today.

Miller’s Bill 6, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to provide for an Employee Wage Security Program., passed second reading debate. That means it’s just one third-reading vote away from being passed into law. If passed, the bill would create an Employee Wage Security Program to assist laid-off workers who companies are cheating out of hard-earned severance and benefits.

“It’s time to reward the hard work of Ontario’s working women and men by making sure that when a plant shuts down or lays off workers no one is denied severance and benefits that they have earned,” Miller said.

The bill is a response to Miller’s experience helping workers in the embattled manufacturing sector. With Dalton McGuinty as Premier, Ontario has lost 175,000 manufacturing jobs, including thousands in the Hamilton area.

Miller vowed to do everything he can to make sure the government isn’t allowed to stall the bill in committee and that it comes back to the Legislature in a timely way for a third reading vote.

“My bill represents an important step forward for worker fairness and security. I am pleased my wage security bill has cleared an important hurdle. I hope all MPPs from all parties will get behind the bill and work with me to make sure that it comes back to the Legislature and gets passed into law,” he said.