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B.C. confirms minimum wage hike to $17.40 on June 1

The British Columbia government has confirmed that minimum wage rates across the province will increase in 2024 to match the rate of inflation, according to an order in council. This adjustment comes as part of a broader legislative initiative to index minimum wages to inflation, ensuring steady growth in wages in line with economic conditions, it said.

Effective June 1, 2024, the general minimum wage in B.C. will rise from the current rate of $16.75 to $17.40 per hour, marking a 3.9 per cent increase. This rate hike mirrors the average inflation rate recorded in B.C. during 2023.

Similarly, alternate minimum wages applicable to residential caretakers, live-in home-support workers, and camp leaders will also see a 3.9 per cent increase starting June 1. Additionally, on Dec. 31, 2024, the minimum piece rates for 15 hand-harvested crops will be adjusted upwards by the same percentage.

In a move to stabilize future minimum wage adjustments, the provincial government enacted amendments to the Employment Standards Act in February 2024. These amendments establish a mechanism whereby annual adjustments to the minimum wage rates are directly tied to the previous year’s inflation rate in B.C., providing both employers and employees with predictability and consistency.

The schedule for these wage increases has been strategically planned. Most minimum wage rates, including the general wage, will be updated on June 1 each year. However, the updates to minimum agricultural piece rates are slated for December 31 each year, preventing disruptions during the peak of the harvest season.

The government cites these changes as steps toward reducing poverty, enhancing affordability, and fostering a robust and equitable economic environment in British Columbia.