Ontario Extending $3 Wage Increase For Personal Service Workers To August

Ontario is extending a wage increase for personal service workers for another two months.

It was set to expire on June 30 but that period is being extended to Aug. 23.
The pay bump of three dollars per hour will remain in place for workers in home and community care, long-term care, public hospitals and other social services.

“Our government is committed to supporting personal support workers and direct support workers as they care for Ontarians during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister of Health Christine Elliott said in a release.

“These wage enhancements recognize personal support workers and direct support workers for their dedication to their patients, and help ensure they have the resources they need to continue delivering quality care in our communities.”
The government says it will continue to review the wage and look at next steps after August.
Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton says extending the wage increase will help attract and retain workers in the sector.

“Personal support workers are the backbone of Ontario’s long-term care system,” Fullerton said. “Extending this wage increase will help to attract and retain personal support workers in long-term care which is so important as they provide our loved ones with the care they need and deserve everyday.”

The province has been providing the wage increase to more than 158,000 workers since October 2020.