A new law proposed by the BC government will provide workers up to 3 hours of paid leave to get each dose of their Covid-19 vaccine.

“This means workers won’t lose pay if they need time away from work to get vaccinated,” says Dan Goodman, interim President of UFCW Local 247, “and that’s an important positive step for our members and workers across the province.”

The amendment to provide up to 3 hours paid leave expands on the regulatory improvements made on April 1, 2021, that currently provide job-protected leave for workers to take as much time as they need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

If passed, the new law will take effect retroactively to April 19.

“We know that many workers can’t afford to lose pay, and we need to make sure that it’s as easy as possible for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Harry Bains, B.C.’s Minister of Labour. “This paid leave will ensure that no one will have to choose between losing pay and getting their doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.”