Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough announced today, Friday, that the federal government will extend sickness benefits for employment insurance to 26 weeks, up from 15 weeks.

Workers applying for EI will also be eligible for more generous benefits starting December 18, with advocates praising the move but urging the government to fulfill its promise of greater system reform.

Qualtrough said: "Far too many workers pay into EI, yet when they become seriously ill, and when they have injuries to recover from, the fifteen weeks do not cover the duration of the injury. We know that, and organizations like yours have long called for an increase in the number of EI sickness weeks."

The maximum duration of unpaid medical leave available to federally regulated private-sector workers was also extended to 27 weeks from 17 weeks, starting on the same date.

This change will ensure that these workers can take sufficient unpaid leave from their jobs to receive the extended sickness benefits from EI.

In September, the minister met with labour leaders and promised to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks by the end of the year, a change included in the 2022 budget, where on Friday a spokesperson for the National Unemployed Council described the announcement as "a big step forward."

Earlier, Qualtrough said the government would present its plan by the end of the year. On Friday, she added that the government "will have a lot to say" regarding the update.