Moncton 
New Brunswick government is temporarily increasing the hourly wages of approximately 8,000 workers who provide services to vulnerable residents.
Blaine Higgs administration says those who earn less than $18 per hour and who provide services to vulnerable residents will receive a $3 per hour wage top-up called Emergency Essential Work Wage Top-Up effective Saturday, January 15th.
“We highly value the important contribution of these workers, particularly since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch. “We are implementing this emergency wage top-up to support them, particularly during this challenging time.”
Those eligible for the funding include:
- home support workers providing direct in-person care to seniors, adults and children;
- personnel in group homes, community residences, special care homes, homeless shelters and transition houses;
- domestic violence intervention workers; and
- food bank and soup kitchen workers.
The government says the Emergency Essential Work Wage Top-Up will be available until March 14 and represents an investment of $8 million.
According to the press release, the Department of Social Development will work with partner agencies to assist them in implementing the program and the application process is similar to the initiative put in place during the first months of the pandemic in 2020.
