Effective tomorrow (Wednesday, July 1), the provincial minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $9.00 per hour. The increase represents another important step by the Provincial Government toward meeting its commitment of achieving a minimum wage of $10 per hour by 2010.

"Increasing the minimum wage is a key initiative for the Provincial Government," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. "A minimum wage of $10 per hour helps support increased self-reliance of people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."

The Provincial Government will continue to increase the minimum wage for provincially-regulated workplaces by 50-cent increments at regular six-month intervals until the target wage of $10 per hour is reached on July 1, 2010. This implementation plan reflects a balanced approach that achieves the Provincial Government�s commitment while recognizing the need for employers to have time to prepare for the increases. The next scheduled increase will take effect on January 1, 2010.

Increasing earned incomes is one of the goals of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. This strategy was developed with broad community input to meet the Provincial Government�s commitment to make Newfoundland and Labrador the province with the lowest level of poverty in Canada by 2014. Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation allocated $132.2 million to invest in new initiatives to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty.

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Media contact:

Jennifer Collingwood
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 690-2498
jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca