Labor Minister Jean Boulet announces an increase in the minimum wage.
Therefore, starting May 1st, the general rate will increase by $1 per hour. The minimum wage will therefore rise to $15.25 an hour.
298,900 employees, including 164,100 women, will benefit from the increase in the general minimum wage.
The minimum wage for employees who receive tips will increase by $0.80 to $12.20 per hour.
The minimum wage for an employee picking only raspberries or strawberries during a pay period would be $4.53 (+$0.30) and $1.21 (+$0.08) per kilogram, respectively.
The Minister of Labor believes that the difficult economic environment calls for “concrete measures” to improve the purchasing power of people on low incomes, “taking into account the solvency of small businesses, especially in the regions”.
“I am convinced that the minimum wage increase that I am announcing today is part of these initiatives and will encourage Quebecers’ participation in the labor market, thereby counteracting the current high vacancy rate,” Jean Boulet said in a press release.
Raising the minimum wage to $15.25 falls short of expectations from the FTQ, Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire, all of which have called for a rise to $18 an hour.