Health care workers in long term care homes and group homes will be getting a premium for working through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a $4 per hour “pandemic payment” for workers in long term care, retirement homes, assisted living, corrections, home care, youth justice facilities and emergency shelters Saturday.

There will also be a $250 premium per month for the next four months if they work more than 100 hours a month. This means that eligible employees working an average of 40 hours per week would receive $3,560. 

The package was put together by the federal government and the province has put money into it as well, says Ford.

“This is to recognize the valued efforts of our front line workers,” says Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board.

“They are saving our lives and we owe them an incredible debt of gratitude; they are putting themselves in harms way to help the most vulnerable.”

The premier hopes the four month increase will also help providers attract the staff they need.

And Ford called on the federal government to help fix the problems in long term care. “This pandemic has clearly shown the deeply rooted cracks in our long term care system; the federal government has been a tremendous partner…but we need a sustained commitment…to protect the most vulnerable in the long term care homes.”