63. We recommend that employers assist employees, who are affected by permanent layoff, in the transition process by allowing them time to pursue assessment, counselling, and training.
    
    
68. Although employers are responsible for providing training in occupation-related skills, we recommend that public funding be available to assist employers in upgrading the basic skills and literacy of their workforce.
    
    
69. We recommend that employers make a firm commitment to employment equity, pass that commitment on to their employees, and dismantle the systemic barriers that limit their potential workforce.
    
    
71. We recommend that the CLFDB establish a standard for excellence in human resources practices. The standard would describe desirable practices in a number of complementary areas, such as:
    
    

• human resources planning;
• providing labour market information and contributing to local employment
• opportunities databases;
• being an equity employer;
• providing training to employees;
• contributing to cooperative education and business-education partnerships;
• contributing to business-labour harmony.

Achievement of the standard would be publicly acknowledged locally and nationally by the presentation of a certificate.