Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

Paid Sick Leave

Kamloops & District Labour Council pushes for paid sick days

Apr 27, 2021 | 4:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — The president of the Kamloops & District Labour Council says the provincial government needs to do a little more to support workers during the pandemic.

Lois Rugg says she wants to see the province institute paid sick leave. Many British Columbians face lost wages if they take a sick day. This impacts people with lower incomes especially.

“When it comes to making the choice of taking some sick time because you’re sick, or putting food on the table, a lot of people feel they need to make that choice to put the food on the table, feed their families, etc,” Rugg said. “Paid sick leave would definitely benefit especially lower income people in being able to be well and recover and not spread any sort of viruses, etc.”

The federal government has created a benefit for people who are sick or need to isolate due to COVID-19. However, Rugg doesn’t feel the supports currently in place go far enough.

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“Any of the national programs have been to fill the gap, but it’s not something that will support ongoing support,” she said. “This pandemic’s made it clear, how important it is for that protection for those people and I don’t think the federal programs will go far enough. The province of B.C. has gone a long ways further than a lot of other provinces in supporting workers through this, but we think they just need to go a little further.”