In Canada, the government has set some rules regarding minimum wage rates. The presented article will enable you to understand the provision Minimum Wage Increase: Detailed Analysis of History and Future of Canada Minimum Wage Increase? This provision has been set to support employees in Canada by compelling employers to pay a specific amount to the workers.
Minimum Wage Increase in Canada
Minimum wage as the name suggests refers to the amount that employers have to pay their employees as per the norms designed by the federal government of Canada. On the 1st of April of every year, the Minimum wage is revised by the government as per the inflation rate.
We all know the inflation rate is not similar at every geographical location hence the minimum wage rate keeps altering conferring to the provinces and territories. Its changing figures have significance because on this basis only, job seekers can determine the value of skill sets they have.
The minimum wage in Canada?
The minimum wage confers to the least amount that a proprietor has to legally pay to their workforce. The minimum wage was $15.50 in 2023 in Canada which has been increased from 1st October to $16.55 per hour. This wage increment is not limited to organizational workers only but the employees working from home as well as the students are entitled to this increment. For home workers, authorities have decided to give a rise from $17.05 to $18.20, and for undergraduates, from $14.60 to $15.60.
Canada’s Minimum Wage Increase: Let’s dive deep into the History and Future provision
Canada was the first country to establish the concept of minimum wage rates in the 20th century. The main intention behind the provision is to improve the living standard of workers working on an hourly basis. In Canada, it was first started with the amount of $11 Canadian currency in 1976 and then rose to CAD 24 per hour by the next year.
Fluctuations in the minimum wage rate are the result of the constantly changing inflation rate within the country. The rise in inflation makes the life of the people more difficult, especially in the case when an individual earns on a labor level. Receiving payment based on minimum wage provision helps the employees to manage life more comfortably and acts as a helping hand to access good facilities for themselves and other members of the family.
This provision can be considered as a legal guard to the employees as it protects the employees from facing unjustified payment for the work done. In many places and within many organizations, employers have a tendency to save their money which limits them from providing worthwhile hourly payments to the workers, which is ethically and morally a wrong practice.
Minimum wages continually seem to be increasing in many different provinces and territories as per the increase in expenses in modern times. Minimum wages have been raised from $11.60 to $14.00 per hour in Ontario on 1st January 2019 while in Alberta, the same has been raised to $15.00 from $11.60 per hour on 1st of October, 2018.
The provincial rate was observed to elevate from $11.35 to $12.65 on the 1st of June 2018. In June 2019, British Columbia made improvisations to the rate by $14.60, and then just after two years, the amount has been reached to $15.20 for the employees.
Nowadays new research methodologies and findings are contributing at their best to make employers aware of minimum wages. It is the responsibility of the federal government of the nation to ensure that every employee within the society is getting enough payment through which they can access basic needs of their life like food, clothing, and shelter.
Minimum Wage across Canada in 2023
| Location | Minimum Wage |
| Alberta | $15 |
| Yukon | $16.77 |
| British Columbia | $16.75 |
| Saskatchewan | $14.00 |
| Manitoba | $15.30 |
| Quebec | $15.25 |
| New Brunswick | $14.75 |
| Prince Edward Island | $15.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | %15.00 |
| Ontario | $16.55 |
| Northwest Territories | $16.05 |
| Nunavut | $16.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $15.00 |
The wages will keep increasing steadily as per the increasing inflation rate. These fluctuations will lead the government to keep changing their minimum wage policies in provinces and territories, this is your responsibility to be updated on your territory wage rate.
The employees are free to take legal action against the employers who do not pay them as per the minimum wage rate set by the government. The minimum wage rate is similar for every employee in certain fields including transportation, banks, postal services, etc.
Exemptions and special cases to the minimum wage
Some categories of jobs are there that are eligible for special minimum wages in specific provinces and territories.
For example, Ontario has made an announcement recently and said that different minimum wages would apply to students who are at work for different working hours during the school session. Students who work for 28 hours or less weekly will be paid a minimum wage of $14.60 per hour while those who work for more than 28 hours weekly are entitled to get a minimum wage of $15.50 per hour.
In Quebec, general employees are entitled to earn a minimum wage of $14.25 per hour, while the employees who earn tips earn a minimum wage of $11.40 on an hourly basis.
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FAQs Related to Canada Minimum Wage
You may know about the minimum wage rate of any province by visiting the official website of that particular province.
You can raise your voice at your territorial employment standard office.
British Columbia.
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