Yukon gov't plans to extend paid sick leave program

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai says his government will extend a paid sick leave program that covers many workers who lack benefits, but the Yukon Federation of Labour says the measure doesn't go far enough.

The program offers rebates to employers for up to 40 hours of paid sick leave taken by workers who make the average private sector wage of $33.94 or less per hour. The self-employed are also eligible.

The government says the one-year extension will cost $850,000, provided MLAs pass the territorial budget. It's expected to be tabled March 6, when the Legislative Assembly resumes.

Pillai said the program has proven popular with businesses and workers alike. He said 800 employees used the benefit last year.

"We can see that it's something that people are really relying on," he said. "And we know from our conversations with the private sector that [employee] retention is incredibly important to them." 

The Yukon Federation of Labour says it welcomes the extension as far as it goes. But its president, Teresa Acheson, said the program has shortcomings.

Acheson said the program should extend to more workers and cover 10 workdays per year, not five. She also said the government should allow workers to roll unused sick days over to future years.

Not only that, Acheson said, paid sick live should be a mandatory benefit offered by employers, not a government program subsidized by public money.

"There are still improvements to be made to the program," she said. "But certainly at this stage it is good, I think, that they have extended it one more year without having something else in place."

Pillai said his government hasn't ruled out the possibility of a permanent sick leave program. But he said officials need to consult with business leasers first.