Thousands of laid-off workers reinstated with Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Canadian simulation technologies manufacturer CAE is providing much needed protective equipment to front-line healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients amid the pandemic.
CAE will deliver 100,000 N-95 masks to the Quebec government to support front-line healthcare workers, and manufacture and supply 10,000 ventilators for the use of COVID-19 patients.
The company is finalizing the design and testing of its CAE Air1 ventilator and is preparing for production, with the first unit expected to be delivered in early May to health authorities for certification.
"CAE employees are proud to play a role in saving lives by equipping the country with a made-in-Canada ventilator, and by using the CAE global supply chain to obtain a significant quantity of N-95 masks to protect our guardian angels who are caring for COVID-19 patients,” said Marc Parent, CAE's President and CEO.
The company also announced that it is recalling 1,500 employees laid-off amid the pandemic using the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. The vast majority of these workers are based in Quebec and will work from home.
"I applaud the Government of Canada for its immediate and decisive action to support Canadians by creating the emergency wage subsidy program. It also allows Canadian industry to put staff back on payroll and be better positioned to rebound when the current challenges have passed," said Parent.
Other companies that have rehired laid-off workers include Air Canada and WestJet, according to the Canadian HR Reporter.
