First, I apologize for being late this morning. I'm not very good at reading directions apparently, but I'm very pleased to be with you today. Thank you so much for the invitation.
I'm Elisha Ram, the associate assistant deputy minister in the skills and employment branch of Employment and Social Development Canada.
ESDC offers a suite of services and programs, which are both available and have already been deployed, to assist workers and employers who have been affected by the new tariffs on steel and aluminum. These include immediate income supports through the employment insurance system for any workers who have become unemployed, and work-sharing arrangements with workers and employers that can help to prevent layoffs as companies adjust.
There are also federally funded training and employment supports delivered by provinces and territories through labour market transfer agreements.
Beginning in the spring of 2018, Service Canada, which is part of our corporate umbrella, has proactively reached out to more than 120 employers, including three national and three regional unions as well as industry associations and other stakeholders in the steel and aluminum industry across the country.
Employers are generally contacted within 48 hours of known or announced layoffs or closures and are offered information in joint outreach sessions with provinces and territories in order to provide seamless communication about the programs and support that employers can take advantage of. To date, we have undertaken 13 information sessions, and we are looking to provide more.
In addition, over the summer, the government announced new targeted measures totalling $75 million over four years through ESDC to help prevent layoffs to the extent possible in the sector and to provide assistance to those who have been affected by the tariffs. This includes $25 million over three years for temporary special work-sharing measures.
Briefly speaking, work-sharing is an adjustment program designed to help employers and employees work together to avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity. This is the key instrument by which employment insurance income support can be provided to workers who have willingly accepted reduced working hours in order to allow their employers to adjust. The program is particularly helpful to small and medium-sized enterprises, which tend to sign the majority of work-sharing agreements.
The additional flexibilities announced in the summer allow employers and workers to apply to extend work-sharing agreements for a maximum of 38 weeks, which is normally the maximum, up to 76 weeks. There are also a waiving of the mandatory waiting period between applications to the program and lower requirements for employer transition plans. These measures will help employers remain viable, prevent layoffs and avoid or delay potential closures. They also provide employers and workers with more flexibility and allow employers to retain skilled workers as they adjust.
To date, we have signed 13 regular work-sharing agreements related to the tariffs on steel and aluminum, which are estimated to have averted over 300 layoffs and to have helped nearly 700 employees. We continue to work with other employers in the sector to make sure they are aware of these flexibilities.
In addition, the government is making available a total of $50 million over two years through the bilateral labour market development agreements with provinces and territories. The additional funding will ensure a dedicated envelope is available to provide a suite of training and employment supports to workers affected by the tariffs to help them transition to new work. This includes offerings such as employment counselling, job search assistance, skills training and targeted wage subsidies in order to help employees obtain different kinds of work experience.
We will of course continue to work closely with the provinces to monitor the situation to ensure that affected workers and employers have the assistance and support they need.
Thank you. I look forward to your questions.