Starting tomorrow (Friday) B.C.'s minimum wage workers will see their wages rise as the minimum wage will be increased for hourly employees as well as liquor servers, resident caretakers and live-in camp leaders.
The increases are the result of recommendations from the independent Fair Wages Commission, according to the provincial government, although higher minimum wages have been criticized by some business groups.
It’s all part of a plan announced by the BC NDP government in February that will see B.C. reach a $15.20 hourly minimum wage by June, 2021.
In a report this week, the Fraser Institute noted that most minimum wage earners are not poor or sole-income earners for a household but in fact a majority (55.7%) were teenagers or young adults 15 to 24, who could be hurt by reduced employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives states residents of Metro Vancouver need to make $20.81 an hour to get by raising a family in 2018.
That’s the “living wage” defined as the hourly wage that two working parents with young children must earn to meet their basic expenses.
According to the B.C. government announcement this week, the following wage increases will be in effect June 1.
• General minimum wage increases 11.5% to $12.65 per hour, an increase of $1.30 per hour.
• Liquor server minimum wage increases 12.9% to $11.40 per hour, an increase of $1.30 per hour.
• Resident caretaker minimum wage per month, will increase 11.5% to $759.32 for those that manage from nine to 60 units (plus $30.43 per unit), or $2,586.40, for 61 or more units.
• Live-in camp leader minimum wage per day will increase 11.5% to $101.24.
• Live-in home support worker alternate minimum wage will be eliminated. For any workers remaining in this category, the general minimum wage will apply for all hours worked.
