EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

20.    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSE

	For the years ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Salaries and wages	$	10,536,409	$	9,583,936	$	8,477,335
Pension plan and employment insurance		506,025		458,276		418,303
Contribution to defined contribution pension plan		198,342		182,449		170,358
Health benefits		765,948		651,269		476,217
Cash-based employee expenses	$	12,006,724	$	10,875,930	$	9,542,213
Employee termination expenses		—		26,050		761,354
Share-based payments		4,905,812		3,189,808		3,292,877
Total employee expenses	$	16,912,536	$	14,091,788	$	13,596,444