ONTARIO-The Ontario government says it is taking action to strengthen workplace safety protections for 29,000 additional frontline care workers by extending mandatory Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage to all privately operated residential care facilities, retirement homes and group homes.
“A decades-long fight to bring security and fairness to care workers has been won. For workers in group homes and retirement homes, expanding WSIB coverage to their workplaces is more than a policy change. This is recognition of the dignity of care work, the value of those who do it, and the responsibility we all share to stand behind the people who spend their lives caring for others. We applaud the Government of Ontario for listening to workers and taking action to better protect the workers who care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.” said Tyler Downey, President, SEIU Healthcare Canada
According to officials this expansion closes a long-standing gap that has left thousands of workers without protection if they are injured or become ill on the job and is another step in our government’s plan to protect workers and build a more resilient Ontario.
“Every day, frontline care workers show up to support people who rely on them,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “They do this work with compassion and dedication, and they deserve to know they’ll be protected if something goes wrong. By extending WSIB coverage across the sector, we’re closing long-standing gaps and making sure no worker caring for others in these facilities is left without support when they need it most.”
The legislation, if passed, would provide workers in all privately operated residential care facilities the same protections as workers doing the same job in a publicly operated facility.
Following consultations, examples of workers that could be eligible include personal support workers, registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and operations staff.
The WSIB is one of the largest insurance organizations in North America, covering more than five million workers in over 300,000 workplaces across Ontario with wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to help ill or injured workers recover and safely return to work
“The team at the WSIB is delivering world class results to help people recover and safely return to work,” said Jeff Lang, President and CEO, WSIB. “We hope people never need us, but if they do, we’re here to help.”
