British Columbia will end a three-year freeze on the minimum wage with a 2-per-cent hike in September, giving the province’s lowest-income earners an additional 20 cents per hour, or enough for a cup of coffee after an eight-hour shift. The minimum wage in British Columbia is as follows:
May 1, 2011 – $8.75 per hour;
November 1, 2011 – $9.50 per hour;
May 1, 2012 – $10.25 per hour;
September 15, 2015 – $10.45 per hour.
Minimum wage applies to all employees regardless of how they are paid – hourly, salary, commission or other incentive basis. Salespersons on straight commission must be paid at least minimum wage for all hours worked in a pay period.
Minimum wage rates for live-in home support workers, resident caretakers and farm workers who hand harvest certain fruit and vegetable crops are set out in the Employment Standards Regulation.
Employees who serve liquor are entitled to the liquor server minimum wage. Tips or gratuities are not wages. Employees must be paid at least minimum wage in addition to any tips or gratuities they receive. The liquor server minimum wage is as follows:
May 1, 2011 – $8.50 per hour;
November 1, 2011 – $8.75 per hour;
May 1, 2012 – $9.00 per hour;
September 15, 2015 – $9.20 per hour.
Factsheet: Minimum Wage
Tags: employment law
