OCSA strongly supports improving pay and working conditions for home and community support service workers. We know that improved employee satisfaction leads to a higher quality of care and improved client satisfaction. For those reasons, we are pleased to support the aims of Bill 148 Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. The proposed increases to the minimum wage are an important step to reducing poverty and addressing other social determinants of health, and we applaud the government’s action in this regard.
When the government makes significant changes to health care operations, we believe it must be ready to find solutions to any resulting challenges faced by clients and caregivers. Therefore, we ask the province to commit to fully funding the service delivery cost increases which would result from this legislation. We are also concerned that some of the changes proposed are not the appropriate fit for our sector, and that an unintentional impact of the legislation may be a reduction in access to health care services for our clients. However, we are confident that adjustments which would solve these issues and strengthen the bill are achievable.
To read OCSA's full submission to the the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, including our recommendations, click here.
When the government makes significant changes to health care operations, we believe it must be ready to find solutions to any resulting challenges faced by clients and caregivers. Therefore, we ask the province to commit to fully funding the service delivery cost increases which would result from this legislation. We are also concerned that some of the changes proposed are not the appropriate fit for our sector, and that an unintentional impact of the legislation may be a reduction in access to health care services for our clients. However, we are confident that adjustments which would solve these issues and strengthen the bill are achievable.
To read OCSA's full submission to the the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, including our recommendations, click here.