Frontline workers who applied for the Risk Recognition Program will receive $1,377 after taxes this week.

The $120 million that was promised to front-line workers fitting criteria set by the province will be soon distributed.

"We want to thank front-line workers and acknowledge the sacrifices they made during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased risks they faced on the job to provide crucial services," Premier Brian Pallister says. "We also appreciate Manitobans’ patience as we reviewed every application we received in order to determine final payment amounts."

The Province says 78,442 applicants will be receiving a Risk Recognition Program payment of $1,377.   

"Many working Manitobans were exposed to on-the-job risks they’d never experienced prior to the pandemic and we can’t thank them enough for the roles they played in supporting all Manitobans through this difficult time," Pallister says in a statement.

Recipients will receive an email notifying them of the $1,377 payment's direct deposit this week.

While the $120 million creates equal payments of $1,530, Pallister adds that the $1,377 payment withholds 10 per cent for taxes for Canada Revenue Agency as the payments are considered taxable income under federal tax rules. They say this was done to help recipients when they file their 2020 income tax return.

Over 90,000 people applied for the program, but not all were accepted. Premier Brian Pallister says the main reason for an application to be rejected was because the applicant's position was not public-facing.

The Province says people in 37,060 roles in public-facing essential roles in retail services and lodging, 27,085 people in health care, 9,325 people in social services and 3,440 people in transportation will be receiving payments.

The province says it based eligibility criteria on recommendations it received during extensive consultations with business and union representatives.

The Manitoba Risk Recognition Program was offered to workers employed on a part-time or full-time basis from March 2, the start of the provincial state of emergency, until May 29. Applicants must have either worked a minimum 200 cumulative hours, or would have worked that amount but were required to self-isolate under public health orders. An employee’s total pre-tax employment income during the eligibility period must be less than $12,500, excluding overtime wages, and they could not be enrolled in the federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit 

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