Minimum-wage workers in British Columbia will get a pay hike of 65 cents an hour to $17.40 starting June 1, in what the government says will help lift more people out of poverty. In this photograph taken with a drone, workers pull a boom while harvesting cranberries at a farm in Pitt Meadows, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Starting June 1, minimum-wage workers in British Columbia will see their pay rise by 65 cents per hour to $17.40, a move aimed at helping more individuals rise above the poverty line, according to the Ministry of Labour.
The 3.9 percent increase aligns with the province's average inflation rate over the past year, as per a statement from the ministry. Labour Minister Harry Bains highlighted that British Columbia has transitioned from having one of the lowest minimum wages in the country to the highest among all provinces. The adjustment aims to prevent workers from falling further behind in terms of their earnings.
Bains emphasized that future increases to the minimum wage will be automatic and based on the previous year's average inflation rate. This approach provides both workers and employers with predictability regarding wage adjustments.
Additionally, the statement noted that the minimum piece rates for 15 hand-harvested crops will also increase by 3.9 percent on December 31. The decision to postpone the pay raise for hand-harvested crops is intended to ensure that producers do not need to make wage adjustments during the harvest season.
