Ontario raises wages for caregivers
The province is taking steps to raise the prestige of the profession.
The Ontario provincial government is concerned about the shortage of child care workers. To motivate people to choose Early Childhood Education as a specialty, the government has taken several steps.
Salary increase
The first and most obvious way to make any job more attractive is to make it better paid. Starting January 2024, the starting wage for child care providers in the Canada-wide early learning and child care system will increase to CA$ 23.86 per hour. The current rate is CA$ 20 per hour, which means it will increase by 19.3%.
In addition, beginning January 2024, employees earning less than CA$ 26 per hour will be eligible for an annual salary increase of CA$ 1 per hour. This will help maintain wage growth over the course of a career. In 2025, this rule will already apply to anyone earning less than CA$ 27 per hour, and in 2026, it will apply to anyone earning less than CA$ 28 per hour. Currently, the bar is set at CA$ 25.
Education and training
The province is also going to take steps to help those who want to learn a trade or upgrade their skills.
- The authority invests CA$ 18.5 million per year in training programs.
- Funding for the Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Qualifications Upgrade Program is increased to allow students with at least six months of experience to earn a credential with administrative costs.
- Supporting an information campaign to popularize professions among schoolchildren.
- Taking measures to cooperate with other provinces and recognize foreign education in the profile.
Elimination of bureaucratic delays
Ontario plans to simplify the internship and hiring process and achieve greater flexibility in staffing its programs. The application process for new institutions has already been simplified.
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