Unifor FAQ – COVID 19 Worker Income Protection Benefit
*** Due to the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on workers, program support criteria are subject to change. Be sure to visit www.unifor.org/covid19 to download updated versions of this fact sheet. ***
On April 29, 2021, the Government of Ontario passed legislation mandating that employers provide employees with paid sick leave under the Ontario COVID-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit. The program entitles workers to take up to three days of paid sick leave at up to $200 per day in wages, if they are:
- going for a COVID-19 test or staying home awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
- sick with COVID-19
- advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19 by an employer, medical practitioner or other authority going to get vaccinated or recovering from vaccination side-effects
- taking care of a dependent who is:
- sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 self-isolating due to COVID-19
- getting vaccinated or recovering from vaccination side-effects
These temporary measures, referred to as ‘infectious disease emergency leave pay’, will be retroactive to April 19, 2021 and will end on September 25, 2021.