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March 1 2011 - Prince Edward Island minimum wage rates will be increased in three phases from June 2011 to April 2012 to $10.00. The Province's Executive Council approved the decision to implement the increases as follows:

• $9.30 per hour effective June 1, 2011
• $9.60 per hour effective October 1, 2011
• $10.00 per hour effective April 1, 2012

Janice Sherry, Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour said:

"We recognize that employers need time to incorporate increases into their operational plans and that is why Government has chosen to implement the wage increase in three stages. This will provide the Island business community more time to integrate the salary adjustments into their budgets.

"Furthermore, the increase will help to further support more hard working Islanders across the province."

The increases will put Prince Edward Island more in line with the other maritime provinces which average $10.00 per hour. According to the PEI Government media release, 62,000 Island employees are covered by the Employment Standards Act (not working under a collective agreement).

The decision to implement the wage increase in a two-phased approach is supported by the Employment Standards Board. The Employment Standards Board reviews the Minimum Wage rate each year and makes recommendations to government. The Board is made up of representatives of employers and employees and has a neutral chairperson. The Board takes a number of considerations into account:

• social and economic effects of the minimum wage rates in the province
• cost of living increases
• current economic conditions, and
• the minimum wages in neighbouring provinces

> More about Prince Edward Island.

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