The B.C. government is bringing in temporary paid sick leave for workers who don’t have coverage.

This means until Dec. 31, workers can receive pay for up to three sick days if they need to stay home. The government says WorkSafeBC will administer the program and reimburse companies up to $200 per day when their workers have to stay home sick.

“For the small percentage of employers that have a highly paid workforce, but do not already have paid sick leave, those employers will be required to cover any remaining wages owed above $200 for each COVID-19 sick day taken,” the government says in a news release.

Labour Minister Harry Bains says with this legislation, workers who wake up feeling sick can stay home from work and get tested for COVID-19 without fear of lost income.

“This is good for workers, good for businesses and good for the economy. It will help avoid workplace transmission and put the pandemic behind us.”

In legislation tabled today, the government also says it plans to bring in permanent paid sick leave as of Jan. 1, 2022, although further details on how that could look are not yet clear. It says it will consult businesses, labour groups and Indigenous communities before coming up with further details.

More to come.