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Getting Paid Minimum wage The minimum wage is one of the basic labour standards in Canada. It sets the lowest wage rate that an employer can pay employees covered by law to perform their work. Today, one of its main functions is to protect workers in non-unionized workplaces, but it also influences the level of compensation of other employees as well. Minimum wage laws were first instituted in Canada in 1918 in the provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba. Minimum wage laws have changed a lot since then, but every province and territory now has a minimum wage law.
Some key general questions about the minimum wage, which are important:
What is the minimum wage in Canada? The minimum wage varies by province and territory and so workers should navigate through the provincial links provided for more information about the minimum wage in their area. Some provinces and territories also have different wage rates for workers in particular sectors; and, some provinces and territories also have different minimum wages for young people.
Are all workers covered by minimum wage law? No, not all workers are covered. Each province and territory has designated workers in certain sectors for exclusion from minimum wage rates, these exclusions are laid out in the law. These vary by jurisdiction, but some commonly excluded sectors are professionals, managers, supervisors, some categories of sales persons, farm workers, commercial fishers, oil field workers, loggers, home care givers, and home based workers.
For workers under federal jurisdiction, the minimum wage is the same as designated by the province or territory where you work. |
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