WINNIPEG – The provincial government has announced more details of the recently announced payment to frontline workers.
After consulting with stakeholders, Premier Brian Pallister has spelled out how the $120 million Manitoba Risk Recognition Program will be distributed. He figures the average worker will get about $1,000 but it’s hard to say for sure.
“I want to thank these organizations, representing more than Manitoba 17,000 businesses and 110,000 workers, for providing valuable input and reaching a consensus on how best to administer risk recognition payments,” said Pallister. “Based on their feedback, we will implement a program to recognize and thank workers who played a key role in our provincial pandemic response efforts and made sacrifices in their professional and personal lives to protect all Manitobans, especially those most vulnerable.”
Eligible categories include store shelf stockers, retail salespersons, cashiers, cooks, security guards, light-duty cleaners in retail facilities, early childhood educators, licensed home-based child-care providers, family violence shelter workers, social workers, nurses and nurse practitioners, paramedics, health-care aides, community services workers (including personal care homes, home care, public health, mental health and addictions), direct service workers for adults and children with disabilities, law enforcement (including Winnipeg Police Service, Brandon Police Service and RCMP), correctional officers, long-distance truck drivers and bus drivers.
The payment is available to workers employed on a part-time or full-time basis from March 20 (the start of the provincial state of emergency) until May 29, who either worked a minimum 200 cumulative hours (or would have worked that amount but were required to self-isolate under public health orders). An employee’s total pre-tax employment income during the eligibility period must be less than $6,250 ($2,500 per month for 2.5 months) and they cannot be enrolled in the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
The full list of eligible positions and organizations is available at https://manitoba.ca/covid19/