The Provincial government announced today that they will be investing an additional $169 million to extend the pandemic pay program for personal support workers (“PSWs”) and direct support workers (“DSWs”) until October 31, 2021. This temporary wage increase that was first introduced on October 1, 2021 and has been repeatedly extended over the last 10 months and was due to be discontinued this week.
This means that the DSWs will continue to receive an additional $3 per hour until at least October 31, 2021. The temporary wage increase will be reviewed on a regular basis in connection with regulations made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
As previously discussed here, while these increases are welcomed and well deserved, they have direct implications for pressures with the care sector generally that cannot be ignored (such as compression/internal equity, pay equity, unequal wage growth across the sector, among other things).
PooranLaw will continue to monitor legal developments related to pandemic pay. In the meantime, if you require legal assistance in determining how these new rules apply to you or your organization, we encourage you to reach out to your regular PooranLaw lawyer, or any member of our team.
Note: This article provides general information only and does not constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice or opinion. PooranLaw Professional Corporation holds the copyright to this article and the article and its contents may not be copied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of PooranLaw Professional Corporation.
