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Government to seek input on the minimum wage Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, announced today that the Labour Relations Agency will carry out a review of the minimum wage this Fall. "The current wage will be re-examined in terms of adequacy and impact for affected stakeholders, including a comparative analysis with other jurisdictions, particularly those in Atlantic Canada," said Minister Burke. According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, approximately 8.5 per cent of paid employees in Newfoundland and Labrador (16,100 people) were paid minimum wage in 2003. The minimum wage was last increased in November 2002 to $6.00 per hour. Under the Labour Standards Act, Government is required to review the minimum wage within two years of the date of the last change. "Our province has the highest percentage of minimum wage earners in the country. I look forward to this opportunity to review the minimum wage in our province and consider how we might achieve and maintain minimum wage parity with the rest of Atlantic Canada." As part of the review process, stakeholders are invited to forward written submissions to provide input and recommendations on the minimum wage. Submissions will be accepted through regular mail, e-mail and the Labour Relations Agency website. "I am interested in hearing all perspectives and opinions on the minimum wage to inform Government in its review of this issue," said Minister Burke. "It is important that we gain an understanding of the varied perspectives to help us strike a fair and reasonable balance, within our fiscal realities, for all those who may be impacted by any change to the minimum wage. "We also recognize that the current minimum wage is one of the lowest in the country, and there is room for improvement. The Income Support and Employment Divisions of Human Resources, Labour and Employment are keenly aware of wage levels and those working people who still require our assistance to meet their families� needs. I am pleased that HRLE will assist the Labour Relations Agency with its review of submissions." Please forward written submissions to: Labour Standards Division Submissions can also be e-mailed to: labourstandards@gov.nl.ca, faxed to the Labour Standards Division at (709) 729-3528, or visit the Labour Relations Agency website at: //www.gov.nl.ca/lra/ to use an electronic submission form. Interested parties can also provide comment by phoning the Labour Standards Division: Telephone: (709) 729-2743 /
729-2742 Please state that the purpose of the call is the minimum wage review. The deadline for submissions is: Friday, October 15, 2004 Media contact: Jacquelyn Howard, Communications: (709) 729-4062 or 689- 2624. 2004 09 21 1:50 p.m. |
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