The Ontario government plans to make a permanent wage increase for personal care workers hired during the pandemic.

A senior government source confirmed to the Canadian Press that the government intends to introduce legislation on this matter this month.

The wage increase for healthcare workers has been repeatedly extended for several months since COVID-19 struck the province two years ago.

It is currently set to expire on March 31.

The source said that long-term care and community care workers will retain wage increases of $3 per hour, and those working in general hospitals will retain increases of $2 per hour.

The wage increase will cover nearly 158,000 workers providing publicly funded services in home care, community care, long-term care, general hospitals, and social services.

The government previously said that the temporary program aimed to help stabilize, attract, and retain the health workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Doug Ford had promised that his government would continue increasing the salaries of personal care workers, but he did not specify when or how that would happen.

This move will be the latest by the Progressive Conservative government in Ontario to incentivize the health sector workforce to stay in their jobs after two exhausting years of COVID-19.

The issue of retaining nurses and healthcare workers was raised as a major issue throughout the pandemic battle, with unions expressing concerns about burnout and low wages.

The province announced this month a $763 million plan guaranteeing an incentive pay of up to $5,000 per nurse to encourage companies to retain staff.

At that time, healthcare unions described the plan as a "temporary fix" ahead of the expected June elections.

Labor groups also called on the Ford government to repeal a bill that caps annual public sector wage increases at one percent.

Editing: Dima Abu Khair