Extend the employment periods of your staff - Workforce Partnership
The Employment Stabilization Program offers financial support to businesses to extend employment periods for seasonal and precarious workers.
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $5,000
- 40% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : June 05, 2024
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Wage Subsidies And Interns
Partnering and Collaboration
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Grant Providers
- Gouvernement du Québec
Status
Open
Overview
The Stabilization of Employment grant offers financial assistance to businesses affected by seasonal or cyclical fluctuations to extend employment periods for precarious and seasonal workers. Eligible activities include diversifying products or services and facilitating workforce sharing among three or more employers to stabilize employment.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for this grant, organizations must belong to certain types and meet specific conditions related to their projects and employee types.
- Private enterprises
- Associations of workers or employers
- Professional associations
- Non-profit organizations
- Cooperatives
- Self-employed workers
- Enterprises in sectors subject to strong seasonal fluctuations
Who is eligible
There are specific types of companies eligible for this grant. The eligible companies can benefit from financial assistance to extend employment periods.
- Private companies
- Workers' or employers' associations
- Professional associations
- Non-profit organizations
- Cooperatives
- Self-employed individuals
Who is not eligible
There are specific types of companies that are not eligible for this grant.
- Agencies of placement
Eligible expenses
There are eligible expenses for the grant. Some of the eligible expenses include project-related salaries, consultant fees, and related administrative costs.
- Salary of the resource whose period of employment is extended
- Salary of the workforce sharing project coordinator
- Fees for external consultants hired to support project development
- Costs related to management and administration activities relevant to the agreement
- Employer-contributed vacation and leave expenses as per labor standards
Eligible projects & activities
There are eligible projects and activities for this grant, specifically targeting the prolongation of seasonal employments and the partnership and matching of the workforce.
- Adding transformation activities for agricultural producers
- Prolonging summer tourism by adding activities like horseback riding or nature observation
- Packaging and/or transporting transformed sea products
- Opening hotels in winter to attract snowmobilers
- Increasing production volume to meet new customer demands
- Performing administrative support activities to optimize organizational processes
- Reorganizing part of the workshop (e.g., machines, inventory) to enhance efficiency
Eligible geographic areas
Eligible geographic zones for this grant include:
- Regions in Québec
- Areas with seasonal or cyclical employment fluctuations
Evaluation & selection criteria
Evaluation and selection criteria focus on the project's ability to extend employment periods through product or service diversification, or by sharing workforce among multiple employers. The decision also considers the nature of the project, the company's needs, budget availability, sector, and regional and provincial priorities.
- Project aims to extend employment periods through product/service diversification or adding tasks
- Project involves workforce sharing between three or more employers
- Nature of the project
- Company needs
- Budget availability
- Activity sector
- Regional priorities
- Provincial priorities
How to apply
- Step 1: Review eligibility requirements to ensure your organization qualifies.
- Step 2: Contact a business advisor at the Services Québec office in your region.
- Step 3: Work with the business advisor to assess your needs and identify suitable solutions.
- Step 4: Prepare and submit a detailed project proposal, including objectives, expected outcomes, and budget.
- Step 5: Await analysis and decision from the business advisor based on project nature, needs, budget, activity sector, and regional priorities.
- Step 6: If approved, follow guidance for implementation and compliance with grant conditions.
- Step 7: Submit periodic payroll registers for affected workers to receive grant payments.
- Step 8: Provide necessary reports and updates as specified in the grant agreement.
- Step 9: If needed, request an extension supported by a situation and relevance analysis.
Additional information
The grant provides financial support for extending employment periods of seasonal and precarious workers. There are two main activities under this program: Prolongation of Seasonal Employment and Partnership and Workforce Matching.
- The financial support can cover salary, project coordinator salary, and consultancy fees.
- Eligible organizations include private companies, worker or employer associations, professional associations, non-profit organizations, and cooperatives.
- The grant can cover up to 40% of eligible expenses, including wages up to a specified maximum.
- Individual projects can be supported for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension to a maximum of 3 years based on project needs and outcomes.
- Each project must aim to extend employment periods through product/service diversification or workforce sharing between at least three employers.
- Companies must demonstrate the project's potential for mid-term sustainability or development.
- Both full-time and part-time precarious workers are eligible under this grant.
- The application process involves consulting with a business advisor from the regional Services Québec office.
Apply to this program
Employment Stabilization Grant
The Employment Stabilization Grant offers financial aid to businesses experiencing seasonal or cyclical workforce fluctuations. The program aims to lengthen employment periods for workers with precarious status or in seasonal jobs through project-based support in product or service diversification and workforce sharing among companies.
Comprehensive Guide to the Employment Stabilization Grant
The Employment Stabilization Grant is an initiative designed to support businesses in mitigating the impact of seasonal or cyclical employment fluctuations. Through financial aid and other resources, the program aims to prolong the employment tenure of workers who are otherwise at risk of layoffs during off-peak seasons. This comprehensive guide will explore the various facets of the grant, including eligibility criteria, application process, and the types of projects that could qualify for funding.
Overview of the Employment Stabilization Grant
The Employment Stabilization Grant is managed by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity and is an integral part of Quebec's employment development initiatives. The grant targets private enterprises, associations of workers or employers, professional associations, non-profit organizations, and cooperatives, particularly those within sectors susceptible to seasonal or cyclical changes. The program is divided into two main components:
- Prolongation of Seasonal Jobs
- Workforce Partnership and Matching
Prolongation of Seasonal Jobs
This component focuses on extending the employment periods for seasonal and precarious workers by encouraging businesses to undertake projects that diversify their products or services. The primary objective is to ensure that workers have a more stable employment tenure, thus reducing dependency on unemployment benefits and improving overall job satisfaction and productivity.
Specific Objectives:
- Help businesses adapt by diversifying their activities to reduce the impact of seasonal employment.
- Encourage employers to develop medium to long-term strategies to secure better employment opportunities for their workers.
Anticipated Outcomes:
- Longer periods of employment for seasonal workers.
- Enhanced skills and better job security for workers.
Eligible Employers:
- Businesses that are subject to seasonal fluctuations. For example, agriculture, tourism, and fishing industries.
- Employers who conduct activities that repeat annually based on seasonal changes.
Eligible Activities:
- Diversification of products or services, such as adding food processing activities for agricultural producers or extending the tourism season with new activities.
- Operational improvements such as administrative support and restructuring efforts to optimize workforce efficiency.
Financial Aid:
- The Ministry subsidizes up to 40% of the worker's salary, excluding employer's social charges, capped at $5,000 annually per job. Employers must cover at least 60% of the worker's salary.
Workforce Partnership and Matching
This component aims to support collaborations between employers to share precarious workers. By creating partnerships, businesses can help stabilize employment schedules for workers who might otherwise face job uncertainty.
Specific Objectives:
- Prolong employment periods for workers, reducing the need for unemployment benefits.
- Facilitate cooperation between multiple employers to balance workforce demands.
Expected Outcomes:
- More consistent employment for workers with flexible job roles.
- Improvement in workforce management and operational efficiencies for businesses.
Eligibility for Employers:
- Businesses looking for labor or employing flexible (seasonal, contractual, temporary, part-time) workforce.
- Regrouped clusters of at least three companies or organizations in proximity to each other.
Non-eligible activities:
- Any activities managed by a placement agency.
- Workforce sharing among fewer than three companies.
Financial Aid:
- The Ministry subsidizes up to 40% of eligible costs, including the salary of a project coordinator, with a maximum of $30,000, excluding employer’s social charges.
Application Process
To apply for the Employment Stabilization Grant, businesses must contact a business advisor at their local Quebec Service Bureau. The advisor will provide guidance on the application process, helping businesses identify their needs and the appropriate solutions. Key steps in the application process include:
- Initial Consultation: Discuss your business needs and project ideas with a business advisor.
- Eligibility Verification: Confirm that your business and proposed project meet the eligibility criteria.
- Proposal Development: Prepare a detailed project proposal outlining the objectives, activities, expected outcomes, and budget.
- Submission: Submit your proposal along with any required documentation for review.
- Evaluation: Your proposal will be evaluated based on its potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with the program's objectives.
- Approval and Agreement: If approved, an agreement will be drafted outlining the terms, financial aid amount, and reporting requirements.
Conclusion
The Employment Stabilization Grant provides significant opportunities for businesses to stabilize their workforce, ensuring longer employment periods and reducing dependency on unemployment benefits. By embracing product or service diversification and developing partnerships for shared workforce management, businesses can create a more resilient and productive working environment. For further information and to take the first step toward securing this grant, contact your regional Quebec Service Bureau today.
