The federal government has detailed the next phase of its investigation into widespread allegations of unpaid work and labour violations across Canada’s airline sector, following months of complaints from pilots, flight attendants, ground crews, and trainee staff who say they were pressured to work hours that were never compensated.
The probe, led by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), began after multiple airline employees reported being required to perform essential duties — including pre-flight safety checks, baggage handling support, training hours, and standby assignments — without pay. Some workers told investigators they feared retaliation or loss of future shifts if they refused.
In a briefing this week, federal officials said the next steps will include:
• Expanded audits of major carriers and regional airlines to identify systemic violations.
• Interviews with current and former employees across multiple roles to gather evidence about wage practices, scheduling pressure, and unpaid prep time.
• A review of onboarding and training programs, where some trainees said they worked full days without receiving wages or proper classification.
• Compliance inspections at airports where complaints have been concentrated, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary.
• Potential enforcement actions, including fines or orders to pay back wages if violations are confirmed.
Officials stressed that the government’s priority is ensuring workers are paid fairly and protected under federal labour law. “No employee in a federally regulated sector should be performing mandatory duties without compensation,” one senior official said, adding that Canada’s aviation workforce has raised concerns for years but feared public disclosure.
Airline unions welcomed the announcement, saying it validates long-standing grievances about overwork, understaffing, and loopholes that allow unpaid duties to be labelled as “voluntary,” “professional responsibility,” or “training hours.” Several groups are urging the government to move quickly, arguing that unpaid labour has become normalized in parts of the industry.
Airlines have largely denied wrongdoing, stating that they follow federal labour rules and compensate staff according to contractual obligations. Some carriers argue that certain tasks — especially those performed before formal shift start times — fall under industry norms.
As the investigation widens, labour experts say the findings could reshape employment standards in aviation, a sector already strained by post-pandemic staffing shortages and rising passenger demand.
The government is expected to release interim results in the coming months, with full findings and potential regulatory reforms to follow.