Minimum Wage Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador Deserve Better
On October 1, 2024, minimum wage increases were announced in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the minimum wage remains unchanged at $15.60 per hour, nearly $10 less than what the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives recently calculated as a living wage that would cover basic expenses.
After years of worker advocacy, minimum wage rates in Newfoundland and Labrador were incrementally increased to $15.00 per hour in 2023. At $15.60, Newfoundland and Labrador now ranks 9th amongst the provinces and territories for minimum wage rates. Only New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have lower wages.
“Working people and their families continue to face an affordability crisis and deserve better than a race to the bottom when it comes to minimum wage.”
Jessica McCormick, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.
In February 2024, the provincial government launched its review of the province’s minimum wage. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour participated in this consultation process, recommending:
- Raise the minimum wage to $20 within the next three years
- Establish a minimum wage formula that reflects the cost of living and productivity
- Establish a permanent Fair Wages Commission
The provincial government’s public engagement process on minimum wage concluded at the end of March however, a report on the findings of the review has still not been released.
“It is time for the provincial government to take a principled approach to setting the minimum wage. By principled, I mean ensuring that this is a protective wage that supports workers’ ability to afford what they need to survive and alleviates the stress of making difficult choices about the food they can buy this month, the prescription they need to fill, or the past-due heating bill,” said McCormick. “The NLFL is calling on the provincial government to release its 2024 Minimum Wage Review report and give low-wage workers a path to a living wage.”
