Minimum wage in Saskatchewan is going up. On Oct. 1, 2016, the hourly minimum wage in the province will jump from $10.50 per hour, to $10.72 per hour. The province says it’s the eighth increase to the minimum wage since 2007.
The increase is expected to impact more than 23,000 Saskatchewanians. More than half of those are people under the age of 25.
“Indexing the minimum wage means people don’t fall behind,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said in a written release. “This increase is just one way our Government helps low wage earners.”
Currently, Saskatchewan has the second lowest minimum wage in the country, ahead of B.C., and tied with Newfoundland and Labrador.
With the increase in October, Saskatchewan will have a higher minimum wage than New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. B.C. will also see minimum wage rise on Oct. 1 to $10.85 per hour, putting that province ahead of Saskatchewan.
According to legislation, Saskatchewan must assess the minimum wage every year, factoring in changes to the consumer price index, and the average hourly wage. Changes to the minimum wage are announced by June 30, and take effect on Oct. 1 each year.
