By Staff
June 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government is investing $141 million to extend the temporary wage increase for personal support workers and direct support workers in publicly funded home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals, and social services sectors. This temporary wage increase will continue until August 23, 2021, and will help stabilize, attract and retain the workforce needed to provide a high level of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The province has been providing a temporary wage increase since October 1, 2020, to over 158,000 workers who deliver publicly funded personal support services, including:
• $3 per hour for approximately 38,000 eligible workers in home and community care;
• $3 per hour for approximately 50,000 eligible workers in long-term care;
• $2 per hour for approximately 10,000 eligible workers in public hospitals; and
• $3 per hour for approximately 60,000 eligible workers in children, community and social services providing personal direct support services for the activities of daily living.
This latest temporary wage increase builds on the government’s previous wage enhancement extension on March 18, 2021, which was set to expire on June 30, 2021. Since October 2020, Ontario has invested $841 million to support personal support workers and supportive care workers. The province will continue to review the wage increase to inform next steps after August 23, 2021.
PSWs deserve a permanent wage increase. If they made a living wage many would not be forced to work in 2 or more homes, I worked in LTC and community for 30+ years. I always had to work 2 or 3 jobs to have enough money to survive. PSWs are the heart of LTC and help 1000s of seniors remain in their own homes.
Sharon, 100% agree. While I’m not a professional such as yourself, I’ve been family care giving since childhood and continue as I write this. PSWs ABSOLUTELY deserve and need to be paid a permanent livable wage. We cannot stop applying pressure to all levels of government to work with their constituents to create, support and maintain dignified care for vulnerable populations and their family who support them. Thank you for your years of service. In my eyes, you and your colleagues are true heroes.