Essential workers at Saskatchewan's healthcare facilities have so far been getting a little bit of extra help from the provincial government through the pandemic. Today, the province announced they were expanding the number of positions that qualify for it. 

After a review, the province decided to expand the program to any worker, regardless of income level, working at an integrated healthcare facility providing either short or long term care. The province is developing a new soon-to-be-available application form. They will accept these applications until September 1.

“Our government wants to ensure that through this program we are helping workers who are caring for some of our most vulnerable,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said. “Often family members help support their loved ones in long-term care in these facilities, but visitation restrictions due to public health orders have made that more difficult, putting more pressure on the workers in these integrated healthcare facilities.”

Before this new adjustment to the wage supplement, only workers making less than $2,500 per month and $24 per hour were eligible for the program. As of today, the wage threshold has been lifted. 

For each eligible worker, the temporary wage supplement is $400 for each four-week period, up to 16 weeks, for the period from March 15, 2020 to July 4, 2020. Full-time, part-time, and casual workers can all apply, as can anyone employed by an eligible facility. Third-party contractors, however, cannot apply. 

This supplement can also be for workers at personal care homes, special care homes, approved private service homes, licensed or unlicensed family child care homes, unlicensed private assisted living facilities, and community-based group homes. 

Full details on the latest wage subsidy update are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/wage-supplement-program.