Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
National

New paid sick day policy comes into effect in B.C.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Jan, 2022 04:18 PM
  • New paid sick day policy comes into effect in B.C.

VICTORIA - Workers in British Columbia are now eligible for five paid sick days as the provincial government brings in changes to the policy affecting workers.

The government says eligible employees will be guaranteed those sick days, provided they've worked for their employer for at least 90 days.

Labour Minister Harry Bains said the change will help lower-paid workers who can least afford to miss a day of paid work.

The province says more than one million workers in B.C. did not have access to any paid sick leave before the new policy went into effect on Saturday.

The paid sick leave protection will apply to all workers covered by the Employment Standards Act, including part-time employees.

The decision to set the amount of leave at five days has been criticized by some labour groups.

The B.C. Federation of Labour has said the B.C. government's data indicates that while workers may take an average of 4.8 sick days annually, countries like New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and Germany have 10 days or more.

Bains said the government's decision to bring in a new policy on sick leave is good for businesses and workers.

"Paid sick leave is good for workers, good for employers and good for our economy," Bains said.

The provincial government says other changes coming in 2022 include making public transit free for kids under the age of 12.

It will also expand its $10-a-day child care program.

The federal government and B.C. reached a deal in July with an aim of reaching an average of $10-per-day child care in regulated spaces for children under six years old before 2027.

The deal aims to create 30,000 new spaces in B.C. in the next five years, with fees for regulated spaces cut in half by the end of 2022.

MORE National ARTICLES

New top judges embraces 'belief in pluralism'

New top judges embraces 'belief in pluralism'
Justice Mahmud Jamal says that means faith in the inherent value of the diversity of nationalities, ethnicities, religions, languages, legal systems and perspectives that exemplify what it means to be Canadian.

New top judges embraces 'belief in pluralism'

Two charged - 2020 investigation of edibles in Halloween bags

Two charged - 2020 investigation of edibles in Halloween bags
Police say they had been unable to pinpoint the home where the drugs were handed out at the time of the complaint, but an investigator kept note of the distinctive cartoon logo on the packaging.

Two charged - 2020 investigation of edibles in Halloween bags

Killings may be linked to hospital attack: police

Killings may be linked to hospital attack: police
RCMP say they found a 73-year-old woman dead in the Rural Municipality of Hanover yesterday and had information a suspect was headed to Winnipeg. A short time later, police responded to a report of a stabbing at the Seven Oaks General Hospital, where a woman in her 60s who works at the hospital was found seriously injured.

Killings may be linked to hospital attack: police

B.C. premier to undergo biopsy surgery

B.C. premier to undergo biopsy surgery
The premier says he won't step down and he plans to retain his position as the head of the Council of the Federation. He says as a precaution, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has been appointed deputy premier to support him.

B.C. premier to undergo biopsy surgery

Another stranger assault in Dowtown Vancouver on a 23 year old female leaving a coffee shop:VPD

Another stranger assault in Dowtown Vancouver on a 23 year old female leaving a coffee shop:VPD
The troubling incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, as the 23-year-old victim was leaving a coffee shop near Main and East Pender streets. The 35-year-old suspect is known to police. She was released from custody after agreeing to attend court at a later date.              

Another stranger assault in Dowtown Vancouver on a 23 year old female leaving a coffee shop:VPD

Canada leads G20 in financing fossil fuels: report

Canada leads G20 in financing fossil fuels: report
The report, which includes 2019 and 2020, adds up loans, loan guarantees, grants, share purchases and insurance coverage provided to fossil fuel producers by governments, government agencies and government-owned multinational development banks.

Canada leads G20 in financing fossil fuels: report