British Columbia's lowest-paid workers will earn a $15-an-hour minimum wage by June 2021, Premier John Horgan announced today, endorsing the recommendations of the Fair Wages Commission.
"For too long, the lowest-paid workers in our province have been left to fall behind, with their wages frozen for a decade at a time. That's not fair and it's not right. Like all British Columbians, our lowest-paid workers deserve a fair shake and a fair wage."
The next wage increase, on June 1, 2018, will benefit 94,000 minimum-wage earners, while increasing the minimum wage to over $15 an hour on June 1, 2021, will benefit 400,000 workers throughout the province. The commission's scaled approach will allow businesses and employers to plan for predictable and stable increases to wages over time.
"Freezing the minimum wage for 10 years hurt people, and then increasing it in a sporadic and unplanned way hurt businesses. We are taking a balanced approach that will work better for everyone, by bringing in measured and predictable increases over time," said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. "I'm thankful for the incredible work done by the members of the Fair Wages Commission, who worked together to come up with a fair path forward."
The Fair Wages Commission recommended the following schedule of increases:
* June 1, 2018: $12.65 an hour ($1.30 increase)
* June 1, 2019: $13.85 ($1.20 increase)
* June 1, 2020: $14.60 ($0.75 increase)
* June 1, 2021: $15.20 ($0.60 increase)
Depending on economic conditions, the commission recommended that government consider of an additional hourly increase of up to $.20, to $15.40 an hour in 2021.
Quick Facts:
* The current minimum wage is $11.35 an hour, and applies to 4.8% of employees in B.C.
* Over 20% of all workers in B.C. earn less than $15 an hour.
* B.C. has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, the strongest job growth and a rising labour force participation rate. Total employment rose by 3.6% in 2017, twice the national pace. Private sector hiring is particularly strong, growing 4.4% last year. Yet, B.C. is a low-wage province and average wages are below the national average.
* The four increases between 2018 and 2021 represent a 34% increase over four years.