In brief
* Unemployment rate unchanged at 7.0% in April.

* April Labour Force Survey shows estimated increase of 25,000 people in employment - the second consecutive month to show employment growth.

* Employment prospects in manufacturing have decreased according to Statistics Canada April survey. 82% of manufacturers said they would keep or add to their workforce, but 18% expected to cut employment over the coming quarter.

General HR
Parental leave to be extended in Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Government has introduced amendments to The Labour Standards Act to provide birth mothers and primary caregivers of adopted children with 52 weeks of job-protected parental leave.

Canada on verge of labour crisis
TIME Magazine carried a special report on a looming national shortage of skilled workers. It concluded that 'Canada's future belongs to its new immigrants'.

Rewards and benefits
Proposed Changes to the Employment Insurance Act
Canadian Senators have a duty to end what amounts to nothing less than outright discrimination against women, says Riche

Health and safety
Measuring employee wellness
There is growing concern over burned-out, stressed-out workforces but widespread adoption of corporate wellness programs in Canada has been discouraged by an inability to make a solid business case and justify the costs.

CUPE attacks work overload
100 delegates, representing more than 2200 PEI members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) voted overwhelmingly against 'unsafe and unhealty' workload levels at the annual convention of CUPE PEI.

Employee relations
UFCW Canada finds Loblaw comments "unacceptable"
UFCW Canada Director Michael Fraser attacked comments made by company chair Galen Weston at Loblaw's AGM in Halifax. Weston told reporters that the company is looking for "more flexibility" in its labour relationships.

Job market
Guide for New Workers
A new information booklet prepared by Saskatchewan Labour includes practical information covering over 30 workplace topics aimed at helping young, and other first-time employees to get a positive experience of working life.

Recruitment
Virtual career fair
New website provides information on career opportunities in service, supply and manufacturing sectors of the upstream oil and gas industry.