Victoria: Provincial Labour Minister Harry Bains on Wednesday announced an increase in general minimum wage.
In Victoria, he announced that from June 1, BC’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise with the general minimum wage increasing from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour.
“Having a minimum wage that keeps up with inflation is a key step to prevent the lowest paid workers from falling behind,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour.
“These workers and their families feel the impact of high costs much more than anyone else. We are maintaining our policy of tying the minimum wage to inflation,” he said.
He said the 6.9% increase in minimum wage rates reflects BC’s average annual inflation rate in 2022.
“The adjustment reflects the government’s commitment to tie annual minimum wage increases to inflation. The same increase will apply to wages for residential caretakers, live-in home-support workers and camp leaders. On January 1, 2024, piece rates for 15 hand-harvested crops will also increase by 6.9 per cent,” the minister said..
“Elevating the minimum wage is a necessary response to inflation. The inflation we are experiencing now in BC 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,” he added.