Increase to the Minimum Wage Effective October 1

By Yosie Saint-Cyr, Editor at HRinfodesk---Canadian Payroll and Employment Law, May/June 2005

On May 25, 2005, the Nova Scotia government announced that the minimum wage rate will increase by 30 cents on October 1, 2005, to $6.80 per hour. The rate will rise again by an additional 35 cents to $7.15 per hour on April 1, 2006.

April 8, 2005, the Advisory Committee set up by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour to lead the annual minimum wage review tabled its report and recommended a 30 cents increase to the minimum wage rate. Since many employers who pay up to $8.00 an hour use the minimum wage as a benchmark, the committee notes almost 32 percent of the province's workers would be affected by an increase.

Specifically, the report recommended that the minimum wage be increased to $6.80 per hour from $6.50 effective October 1, 2005. It also recommended another increase to $7.15 effective April 1, 2006. The Labour Minister had until May 28, 2005 to respond to the recommendation.

To read the full-text of the report, go to the Labour Standards Division -- Nova Scotia Environment and Labour website.

By Yosie Saint-Cyr, Editor at HRinfodesk

Published on HRinfodesk---Canadian Payroll and Employment Law

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