Labor Minister Jean Poulet announced an increase in the minimum wage.
Thus, starting May 1, the general rate will increase by $1 per hour. So the minimum wage will increase to $15.25 an hour.
The increase in the general minimum wage rate will benefit 298,900 workers, including 164,100 women.
The minimum wage for tipped employees will increase from $0.80 to $12.20 an hour.
A worker assigned exclusively to picking raspberries or strawberries, per pay period, is $4.53 (+$0.30) and $1.21 (+$0.08) per kilogram.
The labor minister believes that the difficult economic climate requires “affirmative measures” to improve the purchasing power of low-income people, while respecting the ability of small businesses, especially in the regions, to pay.
“I am convinced that the minimum wage increase I am announcing today is part of these efforts and will encourage the participation of Quebecers in the labor market and thus address the current high rate of vacancies,” said Jean. Poulet in a press release.
Raising the minimum wage to $15.25 did not meet the expectations of the FTQ, Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire, who all called for it to be raised to $18 an hour.
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