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Hackers may have gained access to personal data within Saskatchewan’s young worker readiness course
December 14, 2023
By
Talent Canada
Photo: scyther5 iStock/Getty The Saskatchewan government has issued a warning following an unauthorized breach of information within the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course (YWRCC) application.
The province said it was notified of the breach on Dec. 4, 2023. This application is hosted externally by a third-party and is not integrated with Government of Saskatchewan networks. No provincial systems were impacted, it said.
While an initial investigation did not indicate any evidence that personal information was compromised, there is a potential for information to have been breached. This information would have been provided by users of the application between July 5, 2021, and December 4, 2023, and may include:
- Name of individual taking the course;
- City/Town the individual is located;
- Email address;
- Indigenous Identity (not a mandatory field);
- School (if they indicate they are taking the course at a school);
- Age range of individual taking the course
The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety (LRWS) has been in contact with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, as required by The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, it said.
“The initial gap that allowed unauthorized access of the YWRCC application was immediately repaired. LRWS, along with the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement, continues to investigate additional methods to increase site security,” it said in a press release.
Concerned individuals may contact the LRWS privacy officer:
By phone: 306-787-5196
By email: foiplrws@gov.sk.ca
You can also contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner:
Toll-free (in Saskatchewan): 1-877-748-2298
Email: intake@oipc.sk.ca
In Saskatchewan, the YWRCC is required for 14 or 15 year-olds to be able to work. The interactive course helps prepare young people to enter the job market for the first time, and includes information on workplace health and safety, and outlines basic workplace rights and responsibilities.
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