Image Credit: Business Council of British Columbia

By Chad Klassen

COVID-19

B.C. Federation of Labour pushing for greater protection of workers from COVID-19

Mar 24, 2020 | 6:52 PM

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Federation of Labour (BCFED) is happy with the financial supports introduced by the provincial government on Monday, but says more proactive work needs to happen to protect people on the job from the novel coronavirus.

B.C. Premier John Horgan introduced a $5 billion economic support program for workers across the province. It includes unlimited protected leave for workers who are quarantined, self-isolating, or caring for loved ones during the pandemic.

The supports includes a $1,000 tax-free Emergency Benefit for Workers, and an increase to the Climate Action Tax Credit.

“Protected sick leave throughout this health crisis will allow every worker to follow public health advice as we collectively flatten the curve,” said BCFED President Laird Cronk. “We are encouraged BC put forward this package as an important first step, recognizing supports needed for workers will surely evolve.”

The BCFED says it wants the government and WorkSafe BC to provide further guidance to employers to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.

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This includes highlighting the right of workers to refuse unsafe work, developing exposure control plans, increasing WCB safety inspections, and allowing workers to work from home as much as possible.

BCFED also believes the $1.7 billion earmarked for critical services and supports should be made available right away, especially for vulnerable citizens that have barriers to housing.

The federation feels COVID-19 has “demonstrated the need for robust worker rights and broad protections in a changing economy,” added Cronk. “More poignantly, it has revealed how undervalued certain critical work has been in our society. The myth that lower-wage workers—whether in grocery stores, food delivery, or the care sector— performed work of less value, has now been exposed.”