Essential Workers Could Get Up To $25,000 In Hazard Pay Under Democrats’ Proposal

Senate Democrats announced a plan to add a hazard pay boots for essential workers who are still doing their jobs during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said the plan calls for doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks, and other essential workers to receive up to $25,000 in hazard pay.

The money would be part of the Phase 4 coronavirus relief bill.

Schumer said he’s calling it the “Heroes Fund.”

A Heroes Fund for essential workers should be a part of the next phase of the Congressional response to coronavirus.

No proposal will be complete without addressing the needs of our doctors, nurses, medical workers, truck drivers, grocers, transit workers, and more.

Our Heroes.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 7, 2020

“First, a premium pay increase for essential workers, up to $25,000 from the start of the public health emergency until the end of the year,” Schumer said. “That’s equivalent to a raise of $13 an hour.”

“We have janitors who disinfect our medical facilities, truck drivers who deliver supplies where they need to go, grocery store clerks who keep the food on the shelves of American pantries, transit workers who keep the trains and buses running, and many more,” he added.

The plan also includes an essential worker recruitment incentive of $15,000 to keep the medical workforce that’s needed to fight the pandemic, Schumer said.

The proposal would be retroactive.

“No one has pulled together more than these essential workers who deserve hazard pay,” he said. “We are asking these workers to take on a great risk. They should be compensated for it already.”

If approved, the money would be given to employers, who would then distribute the money to the employees, Schumer said.

Lawmakers will return to work to negotiate the coronavirus relief bill the week of April 20.