TORONTO — Restaurants Canada is lobbying to adjust the age of enrolment in the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan from 18 to 25 to allow those with no job experience to find jobs while keeping more money to pay for school and training.
“Youth today are starting their careers later and working longer,” says James Rilett, VP, Ontario at Restaurants Canada. “The government should recognize this cultural shift and help those who are just starting their careers. What young people need is jobs now, not pennies more in 40 years.”
The restaurant industry is the number-1 source of employment and on-the-job training for young people who have never held a job. In Ontario alone, 197,700 youth under the age of 25 are employed by the restaurant industry.
“Restaurants Canada has always been concerned about the negative effect that higher employment taxes will have on youth,” says Rilett. “With unemployment for Ontarians under 25 three times higher than those 25 and over (14.8 per cent versus five per cent) and students struggling to find first-time jobs, we are asking the government to adapt their plans to protect jobs for youth.”
Restaurants Canada has posted more information about its proposal on the website ProtectFirstJobs.ca.
