On Friday, March 7, the Manitoba government introduced Bill 9, a legislative proposal to amend the Employment Standards Code. This amendment seeks to extend the duration of long-term leave for serious injury or illness from 17 to 27 weeks, harmonizing it with the federal Employment Insurance (EI) benefit period.
Currently, eligible employees can take up to 17 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for long-term serious illness or injury within a year, if employed by the same employer for 90 days.
The National Payroll Institute will closely monitor the bill's progress and provide updates and guidance to its members accordingly.