The masks must either be surgical or approved by Quebec’s standardization bureau. The order comes after the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) released recommendations for mandatory masks in workplaces last week. The INSPQ also recommends workers rotate meal times, favour eating in individual offices when possible or that companies make more rooms available for workers. Veronique Proulx, CEO of Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters, said the adjustment shouldn t be difficult for many businesses in the sector. “Quebec manufacturers have been working since the beginning of the pandemic, and masks have been mandatory for the employees working on the shop floor – so there won’t be a big change or those working within the manufacturing plants, she said.
MONTREAL Quebec Premier François Legault says the 18-day pause his government is mandating, shutting non-essential services starting on Christmas Day, is necessary to bring down COVID-19 case numbers. Now all that s left is to adjust, which means different things for different people. Small retail shops need to plan around a sales schedule with no Boxing Day, while for other industries, those two and a half weeks will be a balancing act. One sector that s staying open is manufacturing, but the province has asked companies to reduce their hours if they can. It won t be quite that simple, said Veronique Proulx, president of Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters. It s predictable that some employees will need to stay home, which means probable overtime for others, she said.