Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, MB—The Manitoba NDP is calling on the provincial government to immediately pass job-protection legislation and compensation supports that will protect essential workers’ health and help stabilize incomes for all working families.

“Every person working in Manitoba has been impacted by this pandemic. The health of families and the future of our economy depends on the government giving direct supports to workers,” said NDP Labour Critic Tom Lindsey. “By ensuring Manitobans’ jobs are protected and allowing workers to stay home when they are sick, we will help prevent the spread of coronavirus and safeguard our economy.”

The Manitoba NDP is committed to working with the provincial government to immediately:

Provide paid, protected leave for every worker who has to self-isolate or care for a sick loved one because of COVID-19;

Provide presumptive Workers Compensation coverage for all workers exposed to COVID-19 on the job, including health care workers;

Recognizing that many workers and their families cannot avoid the potential hazard of contracting COVID-19 in their workplace, compensate them with 'hazard pay'; and

Provide income supports for impacted workers through a top up of benefits for programs like Employment Insurance.

Manitoba’s unions and labour groups have repeatedly called on the provincial government to ensure working families have the supports they need to stay healthy and continue to put food on the table during lockdown.