The four Federations of Labour in the Atlantic provinces have penned an open letter to the Prime Minister, urging government to extend entrance requirements for employment insurance set to expire on the weekend.

The federations are asking Prime Minister Trudeau to continue the 420-hour entrance requirement and administrative simplification measures that were introduced during the pandemic.

They say many workers benefitted from the lower requirements, as it improved benefits for many part-timers, as well as women and racialized workers that normally face increased barriers to EI.

They say it’s the wrong time to take the step as inflation and interest rate hikes are slowing the economic growth.