Many women and gender-diverse workers continue to be overrepresented in low-paying job in the food, retail and services sectors, often working in occupations deemed essential during the pandemic. While the Canadian economy has somewhat recovered, twice as many women have dropped out of the labour market altogether since 2020 compared to men. As COVID-19 income supports are being reduced, more federal leadership is needed to ensure decent work for women and to close gender gaps in the labour market.
In 2021, the government raised the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and, with the adoption of Bill C-3, introduced ten days of paid sick leave for federally regulated employees. Emergency benefits such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Recovery Benefit offered temporary respite, but long-term reforms to Employment Insurance to ensure greater access and levels of support. A federal taskforce launched in 2021 to review the Employment Equity Act is a promising sign and could lead to needed reforms.
