Quebec’s minimum wage rising to $16.10 per hour today

The minimum wage in Quebec will increase from $15.75 to $16.10 today.

Labour Minister Jean Boulet had said that it’s a good balance between preserving the purchasing power of these workers and the ability of small and medium-sized businesses to pay – while going through a period of economic uncertainty.

“217,400 employees, including 118,400 women, will benefit from this 2.2 per cent increase. Thanks to this measure, these workers could see their disposable income increase by up to $484 per year,” the Office of the Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region and the Nord-du-Québec region said in a news release.

READ: Quebec’s minimum wage rising to $16.10 per hour May 1

The announcement was made a few months before it came into force, in order to ensure a certain predictability for the employers concerned

These employees will benefit from the announced increase, mainly in the retail and restaurant sectors.

With this increase, the minimum wage will represent 50.52 per cent of the average hourly wage in Quebec, noted the Minister of Labour.

For tipped employees, the increase will be 30 cents an hour; their minimum wage will then rise to $12.90 an hour.

“The government is once again aiming to support the individuals and families who need it most,” said Boulet.

“This increase ensures a balanced increase in the minimum wage, respecting businesses’ ability to pay. It allows workers to increase their income and preserve their purchasing power,” he added.

“Despite an inflationary economic environment, our government has increased the minimum wage rate faster than inflation over the past six years.”

—With files from The Canadian Press, first published in French and translated by CityNews