In August 1964 the Labour Standards Branch was established to administer Part III of the new Canada Labour (Standards) Code (S.C. 1964-64, Chap. 38). At the same time, this new Branch quickly assumed the dual task of administering the fair wages policy on government contracts and preparing recommendations for pay rates of prevailing rate employees in government departments and agencies formerly performed by the Industrial Relations Branch. Once the Canada Labour (Standards) Code finally came into effect on 1 July 1965, both the administration of the Annual Vacations Act and the Female Employees Equal Pay Act were transferred from the Industrial Relations Branch to the Labour Standards Branch.
Part III of the Canada Code established hours of work, minimum wages, annual vacations with pay, and holidays with pay, in employment within federal jurisdiction and reflected a broader societal concern with working conditions and hours of work. Through "persuation, education, inspection, and enforcement endeavors" (Annual Report, 1967, p. 4) this new Branch sought to ensure that employees in industries under federal jurisdiction received their full entitlements. In this connection, it investigated all complaints and carried out a planned inspection program to promote compliance with this legislation.
In 1974-75 it quickly became evident that "changing socio-economic conditions in Canada demanded that Labour Canada redefine and strengthen its role in labour affairs", (Annual Report, 1976, p. 1). As a result of these changes, the Employment Relations and Conditions of Work Branches were created under the auspicies of the Research and Program Development Branch in 1976, but the Labour Standards Branch remained a functional entity. The Conditions of Work Branch was responsible for administering the Fair Wages and Hours of Work Act and Fair Wage Rates, while its counterpart through legislative deterrents and various programs sought to promote equal employment opportunities. When early in March 1980 these two branches were merged together into the Employment Relations and Conditions of Work Branch, the Labour Standards Branch (which in the latter 1970's appears to have changed its name to the Employment Standards Branch) passed out of existence and its traditional functions were subsumed by the Conditions of Work Division of this new Branch.
These records consist of correspondence, reports, rulings and interpretations and reflect a broad cross-section of concerns arising out of the Canada Labour Code.
See also RG 27, vols. 3886-4077.
