On Wednesday, June 23rd, PhD student Laura Lam presented her policy paper, Navigating Precarity in Non-standard Work at the Public Policy Forum's Brave New Work Conference 2021: The Messy Middle of the Future of Work. The two-day event brought together experts to explore policy recommendations and innovative solutions addressing:
- "a heightened need for training and reskilling;
- some sectors facing a steep climb towards recovery, if at all;
- workers in non-standard work facing daunting precarity;
- an unwelcoming policy landscape."
Laura's policy paper was presented with reflections and reactions from Alex Mazer, co-founder and CEO Common Wealth Retirement and Jeanette Campbell, CEO, Ontario Disability Employment Network.
Abstract: An estimated 30 percent of the Canadian workforce is engaged in non-standard, precarious work, with an inability to transition to something more stable. As the labour market has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, now is a critical time to examine what has played an integral part in shaping the current landscape of our labour market. This paper explores policy considerations around data, benefits and alternatives to envision a future where precarity does not have to be a reality.