MLITSD Restaurant/Retail Initiative Underway

In the last year, there has been a significant increase in workplace violence and harassment incidents in the retail and restaurant industry. To prevent future incidents, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Development (MLITSD) will be conducting proactive inspections of restaurant and retail establishments in southwestern Ontario to ensure they have adequate protections in place. Regions being targeted include: Waterloo, Wellington, Guelph, Grey-Bruce, Huron-Perth, Oxford-Elgin, Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Middlesex-London, Chatham-Kent, Lambton and Windsor-Essex.

Visits will occur between September 1 and December 31, 2025.

Inspection preparedness

Owners, managers, and HR professionals in the restaurant and retail sectors are invited to attend a series of free webinars jointly presented by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD).

These sessions will provide practical guidance on preventing workplace violence and harassment, and help businesses prepare for upcoming proactive inspections.

• From Risk to Respect: Workplace Violence Prevention for Retail Storefronts (September 11)
• Workplace Violence Risk Assessment: Identifying Threats, Prevention Harm (September 24)
• A Guide to Violence and Harassment Investigations (October 8)

Additional learning supports, templates and other practical resources are also available to help.

Published: September 2, 2025