Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #08-032
February 11, 2008
Minimum Wage to Increase April 1
WHITEHORSE – Yukon’s Minimum Wage Rate will increase 2.5 per cent from $8.37 to $8.58 per hour, effective April 1.
The authority for setting the minimum wage rate in Yukon rests with the Employment Standards Board. The board undertook a public consultation during 2005-06 to capture the views of employees, employers and the general public on the proposed changes to the Minimum Wage Rate.
In March 2006, the Government of Yukon supported the recommendation from the Yukon Employment Standards Board to annually set the minimum wage against the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is also used for the applicable increases to the Fair Wage Schedule.
Statistics Canada released the annual CPI figures Jan. 25, noting a 2.5 per cent annual increase. As a result, the Yukon minimum wage and the Fair Wage Schedule will increase accordingly effective April 1. The Yukon minimum wage will increase 21 cents per hour, raising it from $8.37 to $8.58. The Fair Wage Schedule will also increase by 2.5 per cent across the four wage categories.
The Fair Wage Schedule sets the wage rate by category, class and job title that can be paid to persons working on government tendered construction contracts. To view the Fair Wage Schedule, visit the website at: http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/labour/fairwg.html.
Further, the public consultation on the Yukon minimum wage that was announced by the previous board, that was to have taken place in the fall of 2006, will not proceed at this time. Board chair Lori Lavoie said the current board will continue to closely monitor both Yukon and national trends on this very important issue.
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| Contact: | ||
| Roxanne Vallevand Cabinet Communications (867) 633-7949 roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca |
Doug Caldwell Communications, Community Services (867) 667-8065 doug.caldwell@gov.yk.ca |
Lori Lavoie Chairperson, Employment Standards Board (867) 667-8065 |