Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
November 24, 2016
Focusing on Economic Well-being of Residents
Provincial Government Announces Increases to Minimum Wage
Today, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, announced increases to the minimum wage. Effective April1, 2017, the minimum wage will increase by 25 cents to $10.75 followed by an additional increase of 25 cents to $11.00 on October 1, 2017. These increases will bring the Newfoundland and Labrador minimum wage rate in line with other Atlantic provinces.
“Currently, Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest minimum wage rate in Canada and that is not where we want workers in this province to be. Establishing minimum wage is always a matter of balance and anytime we plan to adjust the minimum wage, we must look at it from the perspective of both employees and employers. We feel we have delivered on amounts that consider both the needs of workers and the ability of their employers to pay.”
- The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
Following public consultations the Provincial Government is committed to establishing a method for determining future changes to minimum wage based on an inflationary measure. This will follow through on the direction in the mandate letter for the minister responsible for the former Labour Relations Agency, to establish a consistent method for determining minimum wage. Details on public consultations will be announced once they are finalized and the minister will further engage with key stakeholders.
It was important to bring minimum wage in line with other jurisdictions before embarking on this process to assist employers and employees with budgeting and business planning processes.
QUICK FACTS
- Effective April1, 2017, minimum wage will increase to $10.75 and on October 1, 2017, it will increase to $11.00.
- There will be public consultations to help establish a method to guide future adjustments to the minimum wage using an inflationary measure.
- Details on the consultation process will be announced once they are finalized.
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Media contact:
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Regan Power Media Relations Manager Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour 709-729-1795, 730-4435 reganpower@gov.nl.ca |
2016 11 24 12:30 p.m.