Subvention salariale (Québec Wage Subsidy)

Program Description

A Québec wage subsidy that helps employers hire and integrate people who face barriers to finding or keeping a job. Private businesses, self-employed workers, co-operatives, social-economy enterprises, non-profits, professional groupings, employee and employer associations, training institutions, municipalities and band councils can use the insertion-en-emploi stream, which pays up to 50% of gross wages for up to 30 weeks, or up to 60 weeks for a person with a disability or a functional limitation. The hourly subsidy cannot exceed the minimum-wage equivalent, and hours beyond 40 per week are not covered. A separate work-experience stream, open only to non-profits, municipal corporations and band councils, can cover up to 100% of gross wages within the same minimum-wage ceiling. On top of wages the measure can reimburse coaching, up to 100% of the coach's wage or fees to a maximum of $1,500, and top-up training, up to 100% of direct costs for a maximum of 80 hours to a maximum of $3,600. The hire is arranged through a Services Québec employment-assistance agent: the participant either already holds an eligibility letter or is assessed within 10 working days of their first day of work.

Eligibility Requirements

• Any employer able to offer a job with good prospects of retention beyond the subsidy period, apart from the listed exclusions
• Eligible employers include private businesses, self-employed workers (treated as a private business), co-operatives, social-economy enterprises, non-profits including early-childhood centres, community organizations, employee and employer associations, professional groupings, training institutions (school service centres, vocational training centres, CEGEPs and universities), municipal administrations (cities and MRCs) and band councils
• The employer must offer positions in Québec, have an office or establishment registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, and comply with legislation in force
• The position must be vacant or additional, and pay the salary scale in force at the business or the salary usually paid for a similar occupation
• Full-time is generally at least 30 and at most 40 hours per week; part-time of 15 to 29 hours per week is also eligible; seasonal jobs can qualify if they are recurring
• The participant must be referred by, or assessed by, a Services Québec employment-assistance agent as facing difficulties integrating the labour market
• The employer must provide supervision and follow-up to the worker, and must ensure participants are covered by its liability insurance policy
• The work-experience stream is open only to non-profits, municipal corporations and band councils
• Excluded: political parties and associations; organizations listed on the Registraire des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA); Québec government departments and bodies whose staff are appointed under the Public Service Act; federal government departments and bodies; organizations with an unrepaid debt to the Ministère unless under a written repayment agreement; organizations whose activities are controversial; organizations whose activities are interrupted by a strike or lock-out; personnel-leasing (staffing) agencies; applicants who failed to meet obligations on a previous subsidy; employers already receiving the Soutien aux travailleurs autonomes (STA) measure; employers who are immediate family of the candidate, or on whose board the candidate or their immediate family sits