Protecting Manitobans
 

Back to Work in Manitoba Wage Subsidy Program

PLEASE BE ADVISED: THIS PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED

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Program Overview



The Back to Work Manitoba initiative is a hiring program designed to support Manitoba's economic recovery by encouraging Manitoba employers to bring back their employees or take on new hires. The program covers 50 per cent of wage costs between July 16 and December 31, 2020. Employers can be supported to hire up to 20 employees.

November 10, 2020 Program Update:

Employers that applied to the program on or before November 9 are eligible to receive an advance payment of $1,500 for every eligible worker hired or re-hired to date under the program. Employers will receive an email advising of the advance. The email will include a link to request confirmation of the number of eligible employees hired and other information required to process payment. Employers that re-hire workers laid off as a result of restrictions under the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System are eligible for the subsidy. Employers will receive their balance of payment upon providing proof of payment of wages by February 1, 2021.



Employer eligibility criteria



The program is open to all private sector and non-profit employers who are operating in Manitoba and meet all of the following criteria:

  • Manitoba-based businesses and non-profit organizations operating in the Province of Manitoba, including new startups, are eligible.
  • Employers must possess an active and valid Business Number, business bank account, and e-mail address.
  • Employers must be registered, and in good standing with the Companies Office (not required for sole proprietors).
  • Employers can hire 20 new or rehired employees under this program.

Employers cannot receive funding for any existing employees that are or have been subsidized by another government program. This includes, but is not limited to, the Canada Summer Job Program, Green Team, Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Manitoba Back to Work this Summer Program and Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program. (This does not include the Federal government's 10 per cent Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers.)

Employers that received support under the Manitoba Back to Work this Summer Program and Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program are eligible to receive support to hire 20 new or rehired employees under this program.

September 14, 2020 Program Update: Employers can apply under Back to Work Manitoba to rehire students that they previously employed under a summer wage subsidy program. This includes employers that previously hired students through the Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program, Canada Summer Job Program and Green Team Program. The student must have been laid off prior to the announcement of this policy update (September 14, 2020) or as a result of restrictions resulting from the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.

The following employers are not eligible:

  • Employers are not eligible if they were in arrears for taxes owing to Manitoba on March 20, 2020 (i.e., before the state of emergency), and that have not since rectified this amount in arrears. (This does not include businesses that have deferred taxes as a result of COVID-19 relief programs to defer tax remittances.)
  • Employers that conduct multilevel marketing are not eligible, nor are passive businesses or corporate entities that do not exist for the purpose of carrying on an active business in Manitoba.
  • Employers that currently have an active Manitoba Business Start Loan Guarantee, a loan under the Manitoba Industrial Opportunities Program, or an agreement under The Community Revitalization Tax Increment Financing Act, are not eligible.
  • Public sector employers, including public health, educational institutions, and municipal/provincial/federal governments and agencies and political parties, are not eligible.


Financial support



Employers are eligible to receive a reimbursement of 50 per cent of total wages actually paid between July 16 and December 31, 2020, to a maximum of $5,000 per worker.

Employers that applied to the program on or before November 9 are eligible to receive an advance payment of $1,500 for every eligible worker hired or re-hired to date under the program. The balance of the wage subsidy will be paid out at the end of the program upon submitting final claims.

Employers that applied on or after November 10 will receive a lump sum upon submitting final claims.

All final claims must include minimum supporting payroll documentation demonstrating proof of wages paid. See the Questions and Answers section below for a description of the minimum supporting payroll documentation required.

Please note:

  • Employers are eligible to receive reimbursement only for wages paid and employees hired on or after July 16, 2020.
  • Employers that re-hire workers laid off as a result of restrictions under the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System are eligible for the subsidy.
  • Employers can re-hire students previously employed under a summer wage subsidy program. The student must have been laid off prior to September 14, 2020 or as a result of restrictions resulting from the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.
  • To participate in the program, employers will be required to submit an application on or before December 1, 2020.

Employers can apply to receive funding for up to 20 positions and receive up to $100,000.

Please note that owners are not eligible to receive reimbursement for wages paid to themselves.



Employer obligations:



  • The program is open to all workers who are residents of Manitoba and legally entitled to work in Canada, including students.
  • All positions are eligible, regardless of work hours (full-time, part-time, and casual) and term (permanent, contract, and seasonal).
  • There is no maximum wage amount. However, reimbursement under the program is limited to $5,000 per eligible worker.
  • Employers cannot hire a member of their immediate family for any positions for which they are requesting funding. This includes immediate family members of someone who has a direct financial interest in the company (owner, major shareholder), board member, director, executive member of the applicant organization or any person who is involved in the hiring or responsible for the supervision of the employee. Immediate family is defined as a person's smallest family unit, consisting of their closest relatives, such as parents, spouse, siblings, and children. This includes biological, adopted and relatives through marriage.
  • Employers must comply with all federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulatory requirements.
  • Employers must follow Manitoba's COVID-19 public health guidelines for the workplace.
  • Employers must maintain complete and correct payroll, employment and accounting records, financial documents and other records for each worker hired under this program.
  • * The worker may be a previous employee laid-off due to COVID-19, provided they had not been re-hired prior to July 16, 2020, or a new employee. Workers hired under this program must not displace any existing employees.


How to submit your application ***CLOSED***





For General Inquiries



Call: 204-945-3744 or 1-866-626-4862 (Toll-Free)
Email: mgi@gov.mb.ca


Common Questions and Answers



Applications must be submitted on or before December 1, 2020.

 


The program covers 50% of wage costs between July 16 and December 31, 2020. Employers can be supported to hire up to 20 employees.


Yes. Employers can receive a wage subsidy to re-hire students that they previously employed under a summer wage subsidy program. The student must have been laid off prior to September 14, 2020 or as a result of restrictions resulting from the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System (see next question).


Yes. Employees hired back after restrictions are lifted are eligible for wage subsidy supports.


Eligible employers that applied on or before November 9, 2020 will receive an advance payment of $1,500 for every employee hired/re-hired to date under the program.

If you are eligible for an advance payment, you will receive an email invitation to complete an Advance Payment Request Form.

The balance of the wage subsidy, up to an additional $3,500 per employee hired/re-hired, will be paid out at the end of the program upon submitting final claims and proof of wages paid. Final claims must be submitted no later than February 1, 2021.


Advance payments will be issued to employers that complete the Advance Payment Request Form starting the week of November 16, 2020.


No. You will not have to pay the advance payment back as long as the employee you hired or re-hired is eligible and you have met all of your obligations under the program


Final claims are due to the Manitoba government no later than February 1, 2021. All final claims must include minimum supporting payroll documentation demonstrating proof of wages paid.

The level of funding you receive will be based on actual wages paid to your employees.

If the supporting documentation is insufficient, you will be asked to provide additional documents upon request.


Your claim will not be processed unless the minimum supporting documentation has also been submitted to your case worker (1 of the 5 options outlined below).

If the supporting documentation you provide does not include all the necessary information to process your claim, you will be required to provide additional documents upon request.

 


Option 1: When using a third-party payroll system

First and last paystub from the program employment period. Both paystubs must include YTD amounts for hours and wages.

Option 2: When using an internal payroll system

First and last paystub from the program employment period. Both paystubs must include YTD amounts for hour and wages.

AND

Proof of wages paid by providing one of the following:

  • Copy of cheque register confirming last cheque issued during the program employment period, or
  • Proof of direct deposit confirming last payment issued during program employment period.

Option 3: If paystubs are hand written

Each paystub from the program employment period. All paystubs must include YTD amounts for hours and wages.

AND

Time sheets for the entire program employment period.

AND

Proof of wages paid by providing one of the following:

  • Copy of cheque register confirming last cheque issued during the program employment period, or
  • Proof of direct deposit confirming last payment issued during program employment period.

Option 4: If the employee no longer works for you

Record of Employment (ROE)

AND

Time sheets for the entire program employment period.

AND

Proof of wages paid by providing one of the following:

  • Copy of cheque register confirming last cheque issued during the program employment period, or
  • Proof of direct deposit confirming last payment issued during program employment period.

Option 5: If the employee was paid as an independent contractor

Invoice issued to employer for work completed during the program period.

AND

Proof of wages paid by providing one of the following:

  • Copy of cheque register confirming last cheque issued during the program employment period, or
  • Proof of direct deposit confirming last payment issued during program employment period.

AND

Summary of hours worked by providing one of the following:

  • Corresponding timesheets for work completed during the program employment period, or
  • A summary document outlining hours worked during program employment period

 


Yes. You can request to receive additional wage subsidies, up to 20 in total, after you submit an application. Please contact your assigned caseworker to request an upward amendment.