Labour Group Wants More Paid Sick Days For N.S. Workers
YARMOUTH–The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL) wants the province to grant more paid sick days to workers.
In response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the province brought back a program that covers up to four sick days, or $160 per day.
NSFL President Danny Cavanagh says that doesn’t go far enough, as many workers still have to choose between staying home or paying bills.
“It was fine for everybody to call people heroes that were on the front line during the start of the pandemic. We need to make sure that we’re going to look after those people, especially when we see waves like this hit us,” says Cavanagh.
He’d like to see the province enact a ten-day, permanent, employer-paid sick leave policy.
A recent report from the Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives, which also called for a ten-day employer-paid sick leave program, showed that 54 percent of workers in the province don’t have access to paid sick leave.
Cavanagh says thousands of workers are without paid sick days, despite being in the middle of the largest outbreak in the province’s history.
“They’re concerned for themselves and their family members. That’s why we feel it needs to be enshrined into labour standards, so it can cover any kind of sickness.”
The NSFL is encouraging Nova Scotians to contact their local MLA and call on the legislature to respond immediately.
Kevin Northrup is a reporter with CJLS in Yarmouth, a Huddle content partner.