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Bill 101 to improve certain labour laws

A setback for Quebec women

Montreal, April 25, 2025 – The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) expresses serious reservations about Bill 101, which the government calls An Act to improve certain labour laws. In reality, this bill represents yet another setback for Quebec women in terms of occupational health and safety.

“By excluding health, social services, and education workers from regulations designed to better protect them in terms of prevention, the Minister of Labour and the CAQ government are trampling on women’s right to work in a healthy and safe environment. Yet these regulations were the result of a labour-management consensus several months ago and were even adopted by the CNESST. As a result, these workers, the majority of whom are women, will have a health and safety regime inferior to that of the rest of Quebec’s workforce. Is the CAQ government postponing adoption because the majority of these workers are women? It’s up to Premier Legault and Minister Boulet to answer this question,” says the QFL President.

Regarding financial statements, the bill would also require union organizations to present their members with audited financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting standards and to make them available to members.

“Clearly, the Minister has little understanding of union structures. For instance, the QFL’s financial statements are audited every year by an accounting firm, presented to delegates at the General Council, and made accessible to all QFL members. They are also filed every three years at the QFL Congress. In our view, the bill’s blind spot concerns small union locals of 10 or 20 members, where the costs of an audit often exceed the organization’s revenues. The QFL will participate in the parliamentary committee to discuss the matter with the Minister and seek a solution that is fair for all,” adds the QFL President.

“Where the QFL is satisfied with this bill is with the provision on grievance arbitration, which would require the employer to disclose all evidence before the hearing. This measure should considerably reduce the judicialization of such procedures, which are often too long and burdensome for the parties involved,” concludes the QFL President.

The QFL, Quebec’s largest central labour body, represents over 600,000 workers.

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Translated into English by SEU 800 from the original French-language press release issued by the QFL.