The Compliance Model of Employment Standards Enforcement: An Evidence-Based Assessment of its Efficacy in Instances of Wage Theft

Abstract

This article critically assesses the compliance model of employment standards (ES) enforcement through a study of monetary employment standards violations in Ontario, Canada. The findings suggest that, in contexts where changes to the organization of work deepen insecurity for employees, models of enforcement that emphasize compliance over deterrence are unlikely to effectively prevent or remedy ES violations.

Keywords: Compliance, Employment Standards, Enforcement, Precarious Employment, Regulation

JEL Classification: K00, K10, K31