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CNESST contribution increases: Employers must take responsibility

The Democratic Confederation of Labour (CSD), the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT), and the Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL) denounce the statement by the Quebec Employers Council (QEC), the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ), and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which are requesting “immediate corrective measures” to the Quebec occupational health and safety regime following the announcement of an increase in contributions to the Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST).

The union organizations remind that this increase was adopted by the board of directors of the CNESST, where representatives of the CPQ and the FCCQ also sit. “Employers cannot vote for an increase in contribution rates at the CNESST table and then claim to be victims when speaking to the media! This stance seriously lacks credibility and is difficult to reconcile with the role they play in the governance of the system. For our part, we remain consistent and rule out any distancing from this decision,” state Luc Vachon, president of the CSD, Caroline Senneville, president of the CSN, Nadine Bédard-St-Pierre, vice-president of the CSQ, and Olivier Carrière, general secretary of the QFL.

The labour federations also reject the employers’ attempt to shift responsibility for this increase onto the modernization of the occupational health and safety system. “Let us recall that employer organizations actively participated in the discussions surrounding the reform and supported several of the changes adopted in order to ensure the sustainability of the system,” the spokespersons continue.

Above all, the union organizations point out an obvious fact: the costs of the system are directly linked to the number of workplace accidents and occupational diseases that occur in workplaces.

“Employer organizations today denounce the cost of the system, but they overlook the best way to reduce it: preventing workplace accidents and occupational diseases from occurring. Every injury avoided means a worker spared, but also a lower bill for employers. Prevention is not the problem; it is the solution. It should also be recalled that every dollar invested in prevention saves up to $10 in compensation costs. Employer associations would benefit from mentioning this to their accountants! Prevention is not an expense, it is an investment,” the spokespersons continue.

For the union organizations, it is particularly concerning to see employer groups using this increase in contributions to demand changes to a system that remains essential for protecting the health, safety, and physical integrity of Quebec workers.

“We hear a lot about costs for employers, but far too little about the human cost of workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Behind every statistic are people who suffer injuries, lose their income, or see their health permanently affected. In 2025, 257 workers even lost their lives trying to earn a living! This is the reality the system is primarily meant to address,” the spokespersons add.

The CSD, CSN, CSQ, and FTQ reiterate that the real solutions lie in strengthening prevention, supporting workplaces, and rigorously applying the mechanisms set out in the law, rather than weakening the protections granted to victims of occupational injuries.

The four organizations remain vigilant against any attempt to call into question the progress made in occupational health and safety and remind that a modern and effective system must first and foremost be evaluated based on its ability to prevent injuries and protect workers.

Sources :CSD, CSN, CSQ et FTQ

Translated into English by SEU800 from the original French-language press release.