[Seely32]

New Brunswick to raise minimum wage by 50 cents in March 2008
November 13, 2007 - 5:18 pm
By: CP







FREDERICTON - The minimum wage in New Brunswick will take a sizable jump early in the new year.

The province's independent Minimum Wage Board has approved a 50-cent increase that will raise the minimum wage to $7.75 per hour,
effective March 31, 2008.

It is the third rate change since last October.

Labour Minister Ed Doherty says he will ask the board for a rate increase of at least once a year.

Doherty says the government must consider the rights of employers, but must also ensure employees have a fair and competitive wage.

Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in the country at $8.50 an hour while New Brunswick will continue to have the lowest until the spring hike at $7.25 per hour.

[mylesmalley]

I think it's good they're raising the rate. However, I'm not sure I agree with meeting the national average. First, it's dragged up by the territories. They have very high minimum wages because the cost of living is ridiculously high.

Raising the wage in New Brunswick is great for people at the very bottom of the pay scale, but it doesn't really reflect the situation here and I'd bet that it wouldnt' affect all that many people. The cost of living is a lot lower here. Also, raising the rate can drastically increase the labour costs for companies. A lot of businesses (call centres) come here primarily because of the cheap labour. Getting rid of that makes this region less attractive to certain types of companies.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Also, raising the rate can drastically increase the labour costs for companies. A lot of businesses (call centres) come here primarily because of the cheap labour. Getting rid of that makes this region less attractive to certain types of companies.

The average call center agent in Moncton is making $2-$4 more than the minimum wage even after the raise. (average starting wage is about $10.50/hr)

JL

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Nice work Uncle Ed!

[michael_d40]

The average call center agent in Moncton is making $2-$4 more than the minimum wage even after the raise. (average starting wage is about $10.50/hr)

JL


Im a call center agent in Saint John, and I make 14.90 an hour

[mylesmalley]

The average call center agent in Moncton is making $2-$4 more than the minimum wage even after the raise. (average starting wage is about $10.50/hr)

JL

That's why I mentioned that it wouldnt' affect many people. My point about labour rates was referring more to companies that typically pay bottom-rung salaries like stores.

A store with 50 employees working 20 hours a week at minimum wage would end up paying 500$ a week more in salaries, plus more in EI, CP and income tax. 26,000$ (minimum) a year can be a tough pill to swallow if your company lives with very tight margins.

[Seely32]

This is only going to help the lower income tax break, but it may make a difference in those peoples live's. That money could be them making rent and so on and so on. At the opposite end this could make these people spend more money if there the ones making the money, lets just look at it from a business point of view and hope its a well returned investment.

But the small budget retailers would take a blow but the dollar has fallen back to about even par so where not in such an immediate crisis as it could have been with a long stay above parity.

[alps]

That's a good step...it's $0.15 more than I make here in Nova Scotia! :hell:

[Canasian]

I think NL is doing the same next year