Liberal plan for wage top-up unfair to many essential workers

HALIFAX - The Liberal government is not being clear about who will receive the pandemic wage top-up, causing confusion among many essential workers. The McNeil Liberals have left it up to individual employers to determine who will receive the wage top-up, which will mean some essential workers will be left out.

“Instead of providing a clear list of who is in and who is out, the Liberals’ vague approach is causing confusion and stress for front-line workers,” said Kendra Coombes, NDP Labour and Advanced Education. “People who have been on the front-line of this pandemic deserve upfront and clear answers about what is happening, and they are not getting that from the McNeil government.”

Many people who worked during the state of emergency at grocery stories, in transportation and logistics, in food service, and more, will also not receive any wage top-up.

“The pandemic has revealed that essential work done by grocery store workers, cleaners, truckers, food service workers, and other people are getting paid far less than what their work is worth,” said Coombes. “By increasing the minimum wage to at least $15 per hour, we can show essential workers who have kept us fed and cared for during this pandemic that they are valued.”

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