August 26, 2020
Manitoba Government Enhances Back to Work Wage Subsidy Program
– – –$100,000 in Financial Support Available for Businesses to Get More Manitobans Back to Work: Pallister
Watch news conference
The Manitoba government is enhancing its Back to Work program to support more Manitoba businesses in bringing back their employees to increase their operations and the services provided throughout the province, Premier Brian Pallister announced today.
“The Back to Work Manitoba Initiative is a key component as we continue to reopen our communities and safely restart our recovery,” said Pallister. “Nearly 40,000 Manitobans are looking to get back to work and back up on their feet. To meet additional demand and support employers to hire and bring back more staff, we are doubling the number of employees eligible for a wage subsidy.”
As part of #RestartMB, Manitoba’s roadmap to recovery, the Back to Work Manitoba Initiative supports the province’s economic recovery by encouraging private sector or non-profit employers to bring back laid-off employees or make new hires. The program will reimburse 50 per cent of wage costs (up to $5,000) per employee hired or re-hired between July 16 and Oct. 31, 2020.
The enhanced program will now allow businesses, not-for-profit organizations or charities to receive a subsidy for another 10 full or part-time employees, in addition to the current total of 10. By doubling the amount of subsidized employees to 20, the maximum level of financial support available to employers increases from $50,000 to $100,000.
“As we learn to live with COVID-19, our government continues to look for safe opportunities to get Manitobans back to work,” said Pallister. “Many businesses are adapting and finding ways to operate safely and offer services that Manitobans rely on, and we want to support them as they rebuild to pre-pandemic staffing levels.”
The premier noted the Back to Work Manitoba Initiative has received applications from 445 employers for 2,429 employees and over $12 million in financial supports, as of Aug. 25. Nearly 40 per cent of employers accessing wage subsidies have applied for the maximum ten employees. In the restaurant and hospitality industry, almost two-thirds of applicants have maximized their subsidy for 10 hires.
The program is open to applicants of the Summer Student Recovery Jobs program and Back to Work This Summer Program to make any additional hires. However, positions already receiving funding through other federal or provincial government programs are ineligible.
The application deadline is Oct. 1. Employers will be required to provide proof of payment of wages by Jan. 4, 2021. Program details and the application form are available online at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/btwmp.html.
- 30 -