BC Minimum Wage Increases to $16.75

Photo Credit: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images via The Balance

British Columbia has recently announced that the minimum wage will be increased to $16.75 per hour, a 7 per cent increase from the current rate of $15.65 per hour. This change will come into effect on June 1, and is part of the government's ongoing efforts to address the current record-high inflation and income inequality in the province.

In a statement, Minister of Labour Harry Bains stated that keeping up with inflation is “a key step to prevent the lowest paid workers from falling behind.”

This follows a 2.9 per cent increase in 2022, from $15.20 to $15.65. Prior to that, the minimum wage had been raised several times in recent years. However, despite these increases, the minimum wage has historically been lower than the living wage, which is the amount required to cover the basic expenses of a family with two working parents and two children, according to Living Wages for Families BC.

The wage increase is expected to benefit approximately 150,000 workers in the province, however, business owners have raised concerns about the potential negative impacts. Some fear that the increase in wages will lead to higher labour costs, which will result in job losses or higher prices for consumers. 

Anita Huberman, the CEO and President of the Surrey Board of Trade, has expressed her concern that the “substantial” increase in the minimum wage should have been discussed with the business community last year, especially given the other unprecedented increases in taxes and fees imposed by other levels of government. 

“It is imperative that the B.C. government focus on reducing costs to businesses by committing to convening a commission to review taxes and red tape impacting businesses.”

Anita Huberman said in a statement.