Canadians suffering from injuries or illnesses will now receive EI sickness benefits for a lot longer.
Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough last week announced a permanent change to EI sickness benefits, increasing them from 15 weeks to 26 weeks effective December 18. The move will give “workers the time and flexibility they need to recover and return to work,” she said in a tweet. “With these measures, we’re making sure that workers across Canada are supported in the best way possible.”
The change is expected to impact over 169,000 Canadian workers each year who are battling an illness, injury, are nursing, or quarantining. Currently, EI sickness benefits cover 55% of an employee’s weekly insurable wage, with a maximum eligibility of $638. For those workers employed in the federally regulated private-sector, their sickness benefits will increase from 17 weeks to 27 weeks, with the option to accumulate up to 10 paid sick days per year.
“Canadians should not have to choose between their health and their paycheque. Today, we are fulfilling an important commitment that will allow those who are dealing with a health issue to take the time to recover,” added Canada’s Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
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