P.E.I. Green bill would increase paid sick days for workers from 1 to 10

P.E.I.’s Inexperienced Opposition has launched a invoice that goals to make sure non-unionized staff can take as much as 10 paid sick days per 12 months.

The invoice follows years of stress nationally from labour teams and public well being officers as staff in Canada had been usually confronted with the prospect of shedding pay for self-isolating within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

P.E.I.’s Employment Requirements Act at the moment permits staff one paid sick day per 12 months, however that is solely required for staff who’ve labored in the identical place for 5 consecutive years or extra.

The invoice was launched by Inexperienced MLA Trish Altass. Talking to reporters on the legislature on Nov. 10, Altass mentioned entry to paid sick days would enable staff to observe the recommendation of public well being officers with out dealing with a monetary penalty.

P.E.I.’s chief public well being officer has really useful staff keep residence when sick for the reason that early days of the pandemic.

“We all know that there are staff on P.E.I. who merely do not have entry to sufficient paid sick days or any, in some instances,” Altass mentioned.

“Sadly, COVID has actually proven us how vital it’s for staff to take the time they want when they’re sick to get nicely.”

Altass mentioned 10 sick days has been the advice of economists and a few health-care professionals. She additionally mentioned that, with COVID-19 isolation necessities as a consequence of finish this fall, paid sick days stands out as the solely method to make sure staff keep residence when sick.

“Now we have so many Islanders proper now who’re struggling, who’re dwelling paycheque to paycheque,” Altass mentioned.

“They merely can not afford to take a time off when they’re sick when they aren’t getting paid.”

Final 12 months the federal authorities modified the Canada Labour Code to permit federally regulated staff entry to as much as 10 sick days per 12 months.

Altass’ invoice would enable unused sick days to be carried over year-over-year. However Altass mentioned these sick days would solely accumulate every month and wouldn’t enable greater than 10 days per 12 months.

The invoice would additionally enable the province to offer momentary monetary assist to employers “to assist them adapt to any elevated prices” associated to paid sick go away.

The invoice additionally would exempt unionized staff, who seemingly have already got entry to some paid sick days. Throughout debate, Altass mentioned this was due to problems between numerous collective agreements which can be at the moment in place within the province.

King: Province ‘can do nearly as good or higher than Ontario’

Throughout query interval on Nov. 10, Altass and different Inexperienced colleagues requested Premier Dennis King and virtually all ministers whether or not they would assist added sick days.

Inexperienced Opposition Chief Peter Bevan-Baker prompt King was “cultivating a relationship with” Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford, whom he dubbed King’s “massive metropolis well being guru.”

A short lived COVID-19 particular provision in Ontario gives staff with as much as three paid sick days in Ontario.

“Do you assist kind of paid sick go away than your pal from Ontario?” Bevan-Baker requested.

King mentioned he counted Ford as a “colleague and pal.”

King additionally famous that the province is at the moment reviewing its Employment Requirements Act, suggesting paid sick days may very well be a part of that evaluate.

“The place it lands, I’m unsure, however I believe we might in all probability do nearly as good or higher than Ontario,” King mentioned.

Ministers ask for price estimate

Throughout debate of Altass’ invoice on Nov. 10, Financial Progress Minister Bloyce Thompson, whose duty contains labour issues, mentioned between 48 and 58 per cent of staff lack entry to paid sick days in P.E.I.

“I believe all of us can agree this could be a major price to enterprise,” Thompson mentioned.

“What’s the price of your proposal for the Island employers?”

Nathan Hood, senior coverage adviser with the Official Opposition, mentioned the price of paid sick go away may be very tough to calculate precisely.

He added one “inflated” estimate prompt including 1 further day of paid sick go away would have an total price of $11 million. However Hood additionally cautioned that this was seemingly an overestimate because it integrated unionized staff and farm staff, who can be exempt from the invoice.

Hood and Altass additionally mentioned staff are already shedding earnings as a consequence of an absence of entry to paid sick go away.

“These are wages that staff are shedding,” Hood mentioned.

Debate on the invoice is anticipated to proceed.