WorkBC — Wage Subsidy Program

Who is eligible?

• Registered businesses in British Columbia

Who is not eligible

• Government of B.C. and Government of Canada, including public sector organizations such as municipalities, schools, school boards, public universities and colleges, hospitals, health authorities and other government entities; for this policy, other government entities does not include businesses and corporations owned and/or controlled by Indigenous-governing bodies.
• Employers that lay off or terminate an employee for the purposes of accessing a Wage Subsidy, or that fill a position vacant because of layoff unless that employee declines the position.
• Employers offering employment based on 100% commission or piecework.
• Active WorkBC clients participating in Self-Employment Services, the WorkBC service provider that provides the Wage Subsidy, or employers offering a position working under a WorkBC contract.
• Employers in receipt of other Wage Subsidy funding for the same WorkBC client during the same period.

Eligible expenses

• Portion of employee wages during the subsidy period (up to the program's maximum weekly amounts).
• Employer portion of Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs), including EI, CPP, WorkSafeBC, and vacation pay.
• Disability supports to reduce barriers for an employee to work.

• Use the online application form within the WorkBC Wage Subsidy platform, or contact a WorkBC Centre for help with your application.
• Log in to the platform with a Business BCeID or Basic BCeID to access the online application form.
• Provide basic business information, including contact information, address and CRA Business Number, and answer the eligibility, third-party liability coverage and WorkSafeBC coverage questions.
• Save the application as a Draft if needed and submit it later.

• WorkBC will confirm eligibility upon submission of a completed application and may contact you if further information is required.
• Your WorkBC Centre will contact you to match you with a qualified, job-ready candidate, and WorkBC will inform you about the next steps in the application process once you have applied.
• The new candidate matched by WorkBC must not begin work until the Wage Subsidy agreement is signed.
• Once you have an active Wage Subsidy agreement in place, you can submit a claim form in the Wage Subsidy platform by selecting your Completed application.
• After submission, your WorkBC Centre will contact you for any follow-up required.

• An employer can have up to five active Wage Subsidy agreements per CRA Business Number at one time and a maximum of 10 subsidized clients per fiscal year (April–March).
• Employers must digitally attest to full compliance with the program's requirements during the application process.
• Job seekers matched to a position must not begin work until the Wage Subsidy agreement is signed.
• The Wage Subsidy platform allows sharing and management of applications and claim forms within organizations that have a Business BCeID.