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Effective October 1, 2023, wages will increase for Early Childhood Educators and staff in designated Early Years Centres (EYCs). Wage increases are an important part of a multi-year plan to support the early learning and child care sector and encourage others to pursue a career in early childhood education.
For the first-time ever, employees of EYCs in Prince Edward Island will soon benefit from a defined contribution pension plan, with matching government funds. As the province expands the publicly managed system, the number of staff required to maintain the program will also increase, and long-term financial investments will support a more sustainable workforce.
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The Ministers also announced funding to increase the number of spaces in EYCs through an expansion grant, supporting both operational and capital expenses. It is anticipated that over 300 new spaces will open within the next 18 months.
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Increasing the wage grid
Wage increases in designated Early Years Centres will include the following, effective October 1, 2023:
- $0.50 per hour increase for level 1 educators and cooks;
- $1 per hour increase for level 2 educators; and
- $1.75 per hour increase for level 3 educators and Directors.
This is the third wage increase for Early Childhood Educators in PEI since signing the Canada-PEI Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Agreement in 2021.
Funding a Defined-Contribution Pension
2019 PEI Workforce Strategy Project recommended the implementation of a shared pension plan for Early Childhood Educators.
The Department of Education and Early Years is investing in a new partnership with the ECDA of PEI to develop, implement, and manage a defined contribution pension plan (DCPP) for employees in EYCs.
The new program is intended to support both the retention and recruitment of employees. To be eligible to participate in the program, ECDA members would be required to have three (3) months of employment in an EYC. The contribution at both the employee and EYC level is proposed at 4% of gross pay.
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