Second Accessibility Standard Released

Enacted on May 1, 2019, Manitoba’s Accessibility Standard for Employment is the second standard under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.  Its purpose is to remove and prevent barriers that affect current and potential members of Manitoba’s labour force.  The Accessibility Standard for Employment:

  • builds on existing requirements of Manitoba’s Human Rights Code
  • helps organizations hire, support and keep employees
  • applies to paid employees who are:
    • full-time
    • part-time
    • apprentices
    • seasonal

Safety comes first! 

To ensure the safety of employees with disabilities, all employers in the public, private and non-profit sectors must comply by May 1, 2020 with the following two requirements:

  1. Workplace Emergency Response Information
    • Create emergency response information to help employees with disabilities stay safe during emergencies.
  2. Workplace Emergency Assistance
    • Ask employees who require assistance during an emergency for permission to share information with individuals who agree to help.

Compliance deadlines for all other requirements

Manitoba government will demonstrate leadership, complying within one year, by May 2020.

Public sector organizations must comply by May 2021.

  • These include Crown corporations, regional health authorities, colleges, universities, school divisions, Manitoba’s 10 largest municipalities and government agencies, boards and commissions.

Private sector, non-profit organizations and small municipalities must comply by May 2022.

  • Private sector includes Manitoba businesses and organizations with one or more employees, such as shops, restaurants and professional services.
  • Non-profit organizations include charities, places of worship, community organizations and membership associations. 

Resources:

Introduction to the Accessibility Standard for Employment (PDF) (Word)
Accessibility Works Infographic
Discussing Accessibility in the Workplace (PDF) (Word)
Workplace Emergency Response Information: Toolkit to Keep Employees with Disabilities Safe (PDF) (Word)

Learn more:

Accessible Employment Standard Regulation (PDF) (Word)
Accessible employment for the public sector
Accessible employment for business and non-profit