REGINA – Minimum wage is increasing by 20 cents to $10.20 in Saskatchewan on Wednesday.
The mandated pay wage in the province hasn’t increased since December 2012, but changes to the employment act earlier this year mean the government will consider increasing the rate every October.
“If you want to have loyalty with your employees and you want them to have their time available to you, then you have to pay them what they’re worth,” said Lisa Wicklund, owner of Seed Sustainable Style on 13th Avenue in Regina. “I’ve never paid minimum wage and I’m not really sure how anyone can survive on that.”
However, about 15,000 workers in Saskatchewan do rely on minimum wage and they will all be getting a 20 cent pay raise Wednesday.
“The majority of those people working at minimum wage are employed in the hospitality industry, hotels, restaurants, and food services as well as retail,” said Mike Carr, deputy minister of labour relations and workplace safety.
The local chapter of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business would like to see some sort of two-tiered minimum wage. For instance, in some provinces a lower minimum wage is mandated for workers who make more on tips.
“Allowing a training wage, like Ontario provides and Nova Scotia, but also considering a gratuity wage that Alberta, BC and Ontario have as well,” explained Marilyn Braun-Pollon, vice-president, with the CFIB.
For families who rely on social assistance, $10.20 might not be incentive enough to work. Carmichael Outreach would be in favour of a significantly higher minimum wage.
“If you’re a family, you have kids that got to be in daycare, add in transportation costs and childcare costs,” said Tyler Gray, HIV Strategy Housing Support Coordinator. “There isn’t much of a desire for people to put themselves into further poverty just to be working.”
The new regulations mean future changes will take into account inflation and the average wage.
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