Financial aid for low-wage workers

Financial aid for low-wage workers

Quebec will offer a bonus of $100 a week during 4 months to essential workers whose wages are lower than the $2,000 per month aid benefit, granted by the federal government.

This compensation will be retroactive as of March 15th, and will total $1,600 per month. It is aimed to low-wage workers, such as grocery store cashiers and delivery workers, who might be tempted to leave their jobs and turn towards the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

The distribution of the sums will be made by the regional county municipalities (MRC) directly, because they are the ones who know the situation best on their territory, according to Quebec Premier François Legault.

The MRC Pontiac has also indicated that the mayors will meet to discuss this subject in particular during a special meeting on Wednesday.

When Premier Legault announced this program, named “Incentive Program To Retain Essential Workers (IPREW)”, Quebec Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, recognized that the Canadian Emergency Benefit of $ 2,000 per month for four months, could become more attractive than the usual income of essential workers.

For details on (IPREW) and eligibility conditions, visit quebec.ca/coronavirus.

As of April 6th at 1 p.m., Quebec now has 8,580 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 117 are in Outaouais. The death toll in Quebec has now reached 121. There are still Less than 5 cases of the virus identified in the MRC Pontiac.