B.C. minimum wage changes effective May 1
By Nelson Daily Staff
May 1 means the changes to the provincial minimum wage, under the Employment Standards Act, come into effect for employers and employees in British Columbia.
Effective May 1:
• The general minimum wage increases from $8 per hour to $8.75 per hour.
• The First Job Wage, also known as the “training wage”, is repealed and no longer in effect.
• A new minimum wage rate for liquor servers is introduced. This rate applies only to employees whose primary duties are as a server of food or drink or both, and as a regular part of his or her employment serves liquor directly to customers, guests, members or patrons in premises for which a licence to sell liquor has been issued under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act. The minimum wage rate for liquor servers will be $8.50 per hour, effective May 1.
• Non-hourly rates paid to camp leaders, live-in home support workers and resident caretakers and are being adjusted in proportion to the increase in minimum wage.
• Piece rates for hand-harvested crops listed in the employment standards regulation increase by 9.375 per cent.
Additional details on minimum wage changes can be found at: www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb
