Please note: the AECEA office will be closed from December 25, 2024-January 5, 2025. Expect a delay in processing questions and memberships. Happy holidays!
November 28, 2024
The National Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Workforce Policy Table has released its policy recommendations on wages, benefits and pensions providing a roadmap to a robust and sustainable ELCC workforce.
The policy recommendations emerged from a two day meeting in April 2024 of the ELCC Workforce Policy Table, which was established as part of Child Care Now’s multi-year project, Educators Matter. Members of the Policy Table reviewed research conducted by the project staff, heard from workforce policy experts, and shared their front-line experience of the current workforce crisis.
“Fair and equitable wages, benefits and pensions are crucial elements in supporting the early learning and child care workforce and building a Canada-wide child care system, which is why the Policy Table has chosen to release its first set of recommendations during Child Care Now’s ten days of action to strengthen Canada’s $10aDay Child Care Plan,” says Morna Ballantyne, Executive Director of Child Care Now.
These recommendations recognize both the commonalities and differences between Canada’s provinces and territories with respect to compensation policies and practices.
“Each recommendation is relevant to every jurisdiction, and is directed at all levels of government,” says Rachel Vickerson, Child Care Now’s project and policy manager. “Each recommendation, and the recommendations together, reflect the change educators want to see, and the change that is necessary to address the serious obstacles in the way of recruiting and retaining a highly qualified workforce.”
Key highlights of the recommendations
Wage policy discussions and recommendations focused on the importance of:
- Fair and equitable principles for setting wages
- Public funding parameters and integration of wages into funding formulas
- Formalized processes for sector involvement in determining wages
- Integrating wage grids with policies regarding scope of practice, qualification recognition and equitable access to education
- Strong evaluation and accountability mechanisms both at a provincial/territorial and federal level
- Robust federal funding allocations and guidelines that facilitate recruitment and retention of the ELCC workforce in provinces and territories
Pensions and benefits discussions and recommendations highlighted:
- Structuring pension and benefit plans to ensure full and equitable coverage
- An increased federal role in setting national standards and guidelines
Upcoming webinars
Members of the Policy Table and project staff team will host two interactive public webinars December 11th. These sessions will go over key recommendations, and provide an opportunity for members of the ELCC sector and public to share their insights and perspectives. Both webinars feature breakout group discussions. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the conversation and help shape the future of the ELCC workforce in Canada!
Register here:
- December 11 2024, 2 pm ET – with live French interpretation
- December 11 2024, 8 pm ET
About the Policy Table
The National ELCC Workforce Policy Table consists of members from diverse roles within the Canadian ELCC sector, including ECE professional associations, operators, post-secondary institutions, labour, sector councils, policy research, and representatives from Indigenous communities. A full list of members and more information about the project can be found on the Educators Matter project page.
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