The minimum wage increase comes into effect Friday in Quebec: it goes from $16.10 to $16.60 an hour.
When he announced this 3.1 per cent increase at the end of January, Labour Minister Jean Boulet indicated that 258,900 people would benefit.
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At the same time, the tipped wage increases from $12.90 to $13.30 per hour. This also represents a 3.1 per cent increase.
According to Minister Boulet, in the “current economic context”, it is important that the minimum wage “evolves in a balanced way”.
He believes that this increase “protects the purchasing power of workers, while allowing our companies to remain competitive.”
“It will also help to encourage unemployed people to enter the labour market,” said Minister Boulet when announcing the increase.
The Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) reminds that a worker cannot receive a salary lower than the current rate.
She adds that “the employer must pay him a salary equal to or greater than the minimum wage, even if he has certain benefits, such as a car or accommodation provided by his employer.”
— With information from Lia Lévesque
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
