Premier Christy Clark has announced that British Columbia’s minimum wage will increase to $8.75 an hour effective May 1, 2011. The current rate of $8.00 had not been changed for ten years and is the lowest in Canada.
In addition, the minimum wage rates will increases to $9.50 effective November 1, 2011 and $10.25 effective May 1, 2012.
A special minimum wage will also be introduced for employees who serve liquor directly to customers or guests in a licensed premises as a regular part of their work. Effective May 1, 2011 this minimum rate will be $8.50, increasing to $8.75 on November 1, 2011 and $9.00 on May 1, 2012.
The province is also eliminating the training wage, which allowed employers to pay first-time workers $6.00 an hour for the first 500 hours of employment.