‘No one should have to pay out of pocket for a uniform just to earn a paycheque’
Ontario is proposing workplace law changes that would ban most employers from charging staff for required uniforms and create a new statute to tighten oversight of talent agencies handling performers’ paycheques – measures that would force HR departments in key sectors to revisit contracts, payroll practices and vendor agreements.
The reforms would amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and establish the Strengthening Talent Agency Regulation (STAR) Act as part of the government’s plan to “protect Ontario and build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy,” according to the Ontario government.
Under the proposed ESA amendments, employers would be prohibited from requiring employees to pay for uniforms or deducting uniform costs from their wages, except in limited situations. The ban would apply where uniforms are mandatory and employer-specific, including branded or logo apparel that is “not reasonably usable outside of work,” the Ontario government said.
“Ontario workers are the backbone of our province and they deserve to keep more of what they earn. Whether you work in a restaurant or hotel, no one should have to pay out of pocket for a uniform just to earn a paycheque,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “At the same time, Ontario’s entertainment and creative industries showcase our talent to the world and support thousands of good jobs. That’s why we’re improving fairness and transparency to ensure performers are paid what they’re owed.”
The province notes that while uniform costs vary, some employees pay upwards of $50 to start or maintain a job. The change is intended to address what the government called “a common but often overlooked cost barrier, particularly in entry-level sectors like retail, hospitality and food service.”
The Ontario government reported that 383,900 people were employed in the restaurant and bar sector in 2025, where uniforms are often required. Nearly 178,000 people were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors in 2024. The province also noted that seven other Canadian jurisdictions already limit or prohibit employers from charging employees for uniforms, including British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba.
If the ESA amendments are passed, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development would consult on possible exemptions “such as small businesses,” the government said. The announcement emphasised that the changes form part of a broader package of labour measures to be introduced in the coming days.
Uniform design affects not only employees’ attitudes, but also their ability to do their jobs well, according to a previous Cornell University study.
Talent agency regulation
In parallel, the Ontario government is proposing the STAR Act, a standalone law to increase transparency and oversight of talent agencies that handle payments for performers and other entertainment workers.
According to the Ontario government, the STAR Act would set limits on commission rates, prohibit fees other than commissions and those allowed by regulation, require timely payment to entertainment workers and mandate a separate bank account for funds owing to those workers. The measures are intended to “improve the transparency and oversight of talent agencies to better protect performers’ paycheques in the entertainment industry.”
Piccini linked the new Act to the strength of the province’s creative economy. “Ontario’s entertainment and creative industries showcase our talent to the world and support thousands of good jobs. That’s why we’re improving fairness and transparency to ensure performers are paid what they’re owed,” he said.
"I believe that this legislation will be meaningful for creative workers across Ontario,” said Alistair Hepburn, National Executive Director, Directors Guild of Canada. “I have worked on this issue alongside performers during my time at ACTRA Toronto, and now, in my new role with the DGC, I see its importance on a broader level. These new protections reflect years of advocacy and collaborative efforts, and will help further ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout the talent representation system."
Nearly 178,000 people were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors in Ontario in 2024, according to the provincial government.
Previously, Starbucks workers accused the coffee giant of refusing to reimburse expenses related to the organisation’s new uniform policy.
