British Columbia and Quebec will both see increases their minimum wage rates beginning May 1, 2011. British Columbia (BC), which went from having Canada’s highest minimum wage in 2001 to having the lowest minimum wage by 2009, will finally see a gradual increase in its minimum wage rate starting May 1, 2011, when it will go from $8.00/hr to $8.75/hr. At that time, BC will still have the lowest minimum wage in Canada, but the minimum wage is scheduled to increase again on Nov. 1, 2011 to $9.50/hr, and on May 1, 2012 to $10.25/hr.
Different BC minimum wage rates apply to liquor servers, but they will also see an increase in their minimum wages, going from the current $8.00/hr to $8.50/hr on May 1, 2011, $8.75/hr on Nov. 1, 2011, and $9.00/hr on May 1, 2012. In BC, tips or gratuities do not constitute wages. Employees must be paid at least the minimum wage in addition to any tips or gratuities they receive. Finally, as of May 1, 2011, BC’s training wage is also repealed and all hourly-paid employees will be entitled to the general minimum wage, regardless of how long they have been in the paid workforce.
Quebec’s minimum wage rate will increase 15 cents from $9.50 to $9.65/hr effective May 1, 2011. The minimum wage rate for employees receiving tips will increase 10 cents to $8.35/hr. Employees in the clothing industry will also see an increase of 15 cents from $9.50/hr to $9.65/hr.
The increase in minimum wage will also affect some farm workers in Quebec. Those workers who are not assigned exclusively to the picking of strawberries and raspberries during a pay period will be compensated at the general minimum wage rate. Those workers who are pickers will earn the yield-based rate of $0.75 per kilogram of strawberries, and $2.84 per kilogram of raspberries. Finally, the maximum amounts an employee may be charged for room with meals has been raised to take into account the increase in the cost-of-living and quality of accommodations.
The power to raise minimum wage rates rests with each individual province or territory. Displaying a notice in the workplace that reflects the current wage rates, as well as general terms and conditions of employment, health and safety standards, and human rights and responsibilities under the applicable province’s laws, are an important and ongoing means of communication between employers and employees. Compliance Poster Company offers updated posters for Quebec in English (#83755) and French (#85755), and British Columbia (#83754).