2021 R33 – Paid Sick Leave for Workers

Whereas one year into a global pandemic that has killed thousands of British Columbians and millions of people worldwide, there is no legislation ensuring adequate, employer-paid sick days with the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit being temporary, sometimes inaccessible, and not of use for the crucial first few days of an illness;

And whereas if paid sick day legislation had been in place before the global pandemic, lives would have been saved because infection rates would have been reduced;

And whereas the lack of legislated paid sick days has especially hurt Black, Indigenous, workers of colour and women workers who are over-represented in frontline jobs, with low pay, few benefits, and without the ability to work from home:

Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to legislate a minimum of ten (10) accessible, universal, and permanent, paid sick days for all workers and additional days during public health outbreaks.