Ontario’s provincial government is looking to develop a “portable benefits” system for workers who don’t have health, dental or vision coverage.
The planned “portable benefits” are intended to transfer with the employee if they change jobs. The plan was recommended by a government expert committee focused on addressing labour disruptions due to the pandemic. The committee noted that the benefits program is meant to cover gig economy workers, retail and hospitality jobs without benefits, as well as to accommodate individuals going through different careers in their lives.
“This is about rebalancing the scales and giving workers the confidence they need to drive their careers forward,” said Labour Minister Monte McNaughton.“This is how we’re going to ensure that workers have more take-home pay, more workplace protections and more opportunities to build better lives.”
McNaughton added that more details on the program will be researched over the following months. Ontario will appoint a panel of up to five people with backgrounds in benefits plans as well as financial and workplace issues, which will look into how to best administer the benefits program.
Global News reported that the panel will begin its work this coming March, and it will prepare an interim report in July.
The Ontario government said that most workers in the province who have full-time permanent jobs have health insurance and dental coverage, but less than a quarter of workers with either part-time or risky jobs have similar coverage. Those in low-wage jobs, newcomers and younger people are less likely to have workplace benefits, the province said.
