This Thursday, June 1, B.C.’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour.
The 6.9% increase also applies to minimum-wage rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers and live-in camp leaders. The increase will positively affect approximately 150,000 workers who currently earn less than $16.75 per hour.
Many are food service staff, grocery store workers, retail workers and others who were essential workers during the pandemic, the government said.
“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.”
On Jan. 1, 2024, piece rates for the hand-harvesting of the 15 crops specified in the Employment Standards Regulation will increase by the same percentage.
Government has made regular, gradual increases to the minimum wage to provide certainty for workers and predictability for businesses. This is the second year that the adjustment reflects government’s commitment to tie annual minimum-wage increases to inflation, Province said.
