Workers who provide services to vulnerable residents will see a top-up to their wages.
The provincial government is offering a $3 per hour wage top-up for those working in vulnerable settings and earning less than $18 per hour.
The Emergency Essential Work Wage Top-Up took effect on Saturday, Jan. 15 after the province moved to Level 3 of the COVID-19 winter plan.
“We highly value the important contribution of these workers, particularly since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch in a release.
“We are implementing this emergency wage top-up to support them, particularly during this challenging time,” continued Fitch.
Those eligible includes:
- Home support workers providing direct in-person care to seniors, adults, and children
- Personnel in group homes, community residences, special care homes, homeless shelters, and transition houses
- Domestic violence intervention workers
- Food bank and soup kitchen workers
It is estimated more than 8,000 workers could benefit from the program.
A similar initiative was put in place during the first months of the pandemic in 2020.
The Department of Social Development will work with partner agencies to assist them in implementing the program.
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