📋 Tender Overview
On June 1 2023 B.C.s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise with the general minimum wage increasing from 15.65 to 16.75 an hour.Having a minimum wage that keeps up with inflation is a key step to prevent the lowest paid workers from falling behind said Harry Bains Minister of Labour. These workers and their families feel the impacts of high costs much more than anyone else. We are maintaining our policy of tying the minimum wage to inflation.The 6.9 increase in minimum wage rates reflects B.C.s average annual inflation rate in 2022. The adjustment reflects governments commitment to tie annual minimum wage increases to inflation. The same increase will apply to wages for residential caretakers live-in home-support workers and camp leaders. On Jan. 1 2024 piece rates for 15 hand-harvested crops will also increase by 6.9.Elevating the minimum wage is a necessary response to inflation. The inflation we are experiencing now in B.C. is driven by profits not wages said Jim Stanford director Centre for Future Work. It is unfair to expect the most vulnerable workers to give up some of their non-discretionary income because of record high inflation. By ensuring fairer compensation for our lowest-paid workers we will reduce inequality and foster a more inclusive society.The increase will positively affect approximately 150000 workers who earn less than 16.75. Many are food service staff grocery store workers retail workers and others who were essential workers during the pandemic.Government has made regular gradual increases to the minimum wage to provide certainty for workers and predictability for businesses. Overall B.C.s minimum wage has increased from one of the lowest in the country to one of the highest. The minimum wage was 10.45 per hour in 2015.QuotesMarissa Iacobucci private liquor store employee Until recently I worked for many years for minimum wage and the increases over the past five years made a big difference to me and my community. A lot of my friends and co-workers are still making minimum wage and I guarantee this increase will make a huge difference for them especially with the basics like food and rent that are increasing along with inflation.Sam Jones owner 2 Jazz Coffee and founding member Bread and Butter Collective on Vancouver Island Successful sustainable businesses provide fair compensation for valued employees. Especially in the hospitality sector increasing the minimum wage helps level the playing field for small businesses that pay a living wage such as myself. An even playing field where workers and employers needs are being met is what small business employees and our customers need right now.
