The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting spotlight on essential frontline workers have put a focus on the low wages many of these people earn.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed $4-billion to be dispersed to all the provinces and territories. That money will be used for wage increases in some form or another for those workers.

Federation of Labour president Mary Shortall believes that, historically, many of these frontline workers have been overlooked and underpaid.

Pandemic or not, she says nobody should have to work for “poverty wages.”

Shortall says we need to address this issue beyond when the pandemic ends, and look at things like the minimum wage and living wage.