Temporary changes to the employment insurance program made during the pandemic are set to expire soon, jeopardizing access to jobless benefits for automotive workers in Windsor, Ont., who expect to be out of work in the fall, says a Unifor leader.
Rob Kennedy, a worker at Syncreon Automotive and a vice-president of Unifor Local 195, says the Windsor plant will close Oct. 30 after auto manufacturer Stellantis ended its contract with Syncreon.
Under the temporary measures, workers qualify for EI based on a national requirement of having 420 insurable employment hours, whereas workers would normally need between 420 and 700 hours depending on the regional unemployment rate. Additionally, under the temporary measures, monies paid on separation from a job, such as severance, are not deducted from benefits.
The expiration of these measures comes as the federal government works on drafting changes to EI as part of its pledge to modernize the program. Experts and interested parties have raised a range of concerns about the program, including that too few people can access jobless benefits. Employment and Social Development Canada conducted a survey last year as part of its efforts to engage the public on EI reform. According to results published on the department's website, 62 per cent of respondents agreed that eligibility requirements should be the same across the country. In addition, 60 per cent agreed that the temporary changes related to severance pay should be made permanent.
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