P.E.I. government says sick-day legislation will take effect Oct. 1

The date has now been set: As of Oct. 1, Islanders will have the legal right to up to three days of paid sick leave.

The change comes as a result of an Opposition bill, put forward by the Liberal Party in 2023, to amend the Employment Standards Act.

The bill was passed by the legislature in November, but in January there was still no word on when the bill would be proclaimed — that is, when it would actually become law.

Opposition parties were concerned the governing Progressive Conservatives would shelve the bill indefinitely, in light of the extra costs that businesses would have to incur to replace ill workers.

In a news release on Monday, the government announced the bill had been proclaimed and the sick leave provision would come into effect Oct. 1.

"With the shifting landscape on paid sick leave across the country, proclaiming a date to make the changes to our employment legislation come into effect is a step in the right direction," the news release quoted Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population Jenn Redmond as saying.

Public health officials have long said infectious diseases are more likely to spread when people feel they have to go to work sick because they can't afford to take time off to recover. (CBC)

"We know there will be more important conversations on paid sick days, and we will continue to approach them in a fair and balanced way for all parties involved."

The act gives workers one day of paid sick leave after 12 months of employment at the same workplace, two paid days after 24 months, and three paid days after 36 months.

Essence of Liberal bill 'diluted,' Perry says

Before it was amended, the Liberal bill would have guaranteed workers five paid sick days a year after 180 days of consecutive employment.

In a statement Monday, interim Liberal Leader Hal Perry said he is disappointed that the PCs moved forward with the amended bill.

"While I am glad the government finally took this step forward, it's deeply disappointing to witness how they've diluted the essence of our original bill," Perry said.

"While one day of paid sick leave is a start, it's far from sufficient, particularly in a time when Islanders are grappling with unprecedented cost of living pressures."

Back in 2021, federal legislation came into force requiring 10 paid sick days annually for workers in federally regulated industries like banks, airlines, ports, telecommunications and rail transport. Workers outside those industries had no such rights.