Provincial Government Announces Minimum Wage Increase and Outlines New Model to Calculate Minimum Wage

  • Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

February 20, 2018

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today announced an increase to the minimum wage of 15 cents bringing the rate to $11.15 effective April 1, 2018. The minimum overtime rate will increase to $16.73, 1.5 times the minimum wage rate. The increase, and future increases to take effect April 1 of each year, will be based on the percentage change in the National Consumer Price Index.

Indexing ensures an open and predictable approach to setting the minimum wage, as opposed to the ad hoc approach that has been used previously, and reflects input gathered during public consultations held in 2017.

The last minimum wage increase to $11.00 occurred on October 1, 2017. All four Atlantic provinces have now harmonized the date for minimum wage increases to April 1 annually.

The Labour Standards Regulations have been amended to reflect these changes and enshrine in regulation that the model will not result in a decrease to the minimum wage.

The new model to determine the minimum wage rate complements the actions in The Way Forward to encourage private sector job creation and economic growth.

Quote
“Our government committed to establishing a model for determining minimum wage that is based on an inflationary measure, as well as implementing an approach that balances the perspectives of both employees and employers. Indexing the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index on a fixed date annually provides an open, predictable and well informed approach that helps employees and employers plan for future adjustments.”
Honourable Al Hawkins
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

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Learn more
Indexing Minimum Wage in Newfoundland and Labrador – www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/publications/pdf/Minimum_Wage_Consultations_Summary_May.pdf .

Media contact
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca

2018 02 20 1:25 pm