The province is doubling the number of employees eligible for a wage subsidy through the Back to Work Manitoba Initiative to help meet additional demand and support employers in hiring more staff.

Premier Brian Pallister notes their 50/50 wage subsidy program has seen 440 employers apply for 2,400 positions.

"Just those programs that involve government support we've created over 16,000 additional jobs in Manitoba," Pallister says.

The initiative supports the province's economic recovery by encouraging private sector or non-profit employers to bring back laid-off employees or make new hires. The program will reimburse 50 per cent of wage costs (up to $5,000) per employee hired or re-hired between July 16 and Oct. 31, 2020.

The enhanced program will now allow businesses, not-for-profit organizations or charities to receive a subsidy for another 10 full or part-time employees, in addition to the current total of 10. By doubling the amount of subsidized employees to 20, the maximum level of financial support available to employers increases from $50,000 to $100,000.

"As we learn to live with COVID-19, our government continues to look for safe opportunities to get Manitobans back to work," Pallister says. "Many businesses are adapting and finding ways to operate safely and offer services that Manitobans rely on, and we want to support them as they rebuild to pre-pandemic staffing levels."

The premier noted the Back to Work Manitoba Initiative has received applications from 445 employers for 2,429 employees and over $12 million in financial supports, as of Aug. 25. Nearly 40 per cent of employers accessing wage subsidies have applied for the maximum ten employees. In the restaurant and hospitality industry, almost two-thirds of applicants have maximized their subsidy for 10 hires.

The program is open to applicants of the Summer Student Recovery Jobs program and Back to Work This Summer Program to make any additional hires. However, positions already receiving funding through other federal or provincial government programs are ineligible.

The application deadline is Oct. 1. Employers will be required to provide proof of payment of wages by Jan. 4, 2021. Program details and the application form are available online at www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/mbtwp.html.