MONTREAL – The minimum wage in Quebec will increase from $13.50 to $14.25 an hour starting May 1.
The Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Jean Boulet, made the announcement on Friday. The increase affects around 301,000 workers, including 166,000 women workers, in sectors such as retail and restaurants.
For tipped employees, the minimum wage will increase from $10.80 to $11.40.
In an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday, the minister stressed that he was meeting his target of maintaining the minimum wage at around 50% of the average hourly wage.
Minister Boulet believes that a minimum wage of $14.25 an hour is “a good balance” between the various economic and social factors that must be weighed, such as the incentive to work, the maintenance of purchasing power for low-income workers, the ability to pay small businesses, already hurt by COVID-19, and the fight against school dropout.
The major labor organizations are demanding a minimum wage of $18 an hour. They maintain that this is a minimum for a dignified life. Asked about this, the minister said he preferred to go more gradually. It plans to raise the minimum wage to $15 on May 1, 2023, taking into account Quebec’s economic strength.
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