McGuinty government set to raise minimum wage
Gives lowest income earners first raise in nine years
TORONTO, Jan. 26 /CNW/ - Following through on its commitment for real,
positive change, the McGuinty government will raise minimum wage rates next week, Labour Minister Chris Bentley announced today.
"These increases mark the end of nine years when the most vulnerable
employees in Ontario did not get their fair share of Ontario's economic
growth," said Bentley. "While Canada and Ontario prospered, minimum wage earners lost ground as they saw the cost of living rise while their wages
remained frozen."
On February 1, 2004, Ontario's general minimum wage will rise to $7.15
per hour, from the previous rate of $6.85 per hour. The general minimum wage will increase annually until it reaches $8 per hour on February 1, 2007. In
2000, there were approximately 191,000 minimum wage earners in Ontario who earned between the liquor server's minimum wage of $5.95 per hour and the general minimum wage of $6.85 per hour.
Increases will be reflected in all minimum wage categories as follows:
- students under 18 years old and employed for not more than 28 hours
per week or during a school holiday will rise from $6.40 to $6.70 per
hour on February 1, 2004.
- liquor servers will increase from $5.95 to $6.20 per hour.
- hunting and fishing guides currently paid a minimum of $34.25 for less
than five consecutive hours in a day and $68.50 for five or more hours
in a day (whether or not the hours are consecutive) will increase to
$35.75 and $71.50 respectively.
- homeworkers (defined as people doing paid work in their home for an
employer) will continue to receive 110 per cent of the general minimum
wage.
"Phasing in this increase over four years will help Ontario businesses
plan so that they can remain competitive," added Bentley. "This increase is
reasonable, responsible and the right thing to do now."
