The federal minimum wage in Canada is increased by 7% to keep up with inflation. Moreover, the federal minimum income increased by $1.10 from April 1 2023. Canadian Minister of Labor, Seamus O’Regan Jr., said that as living costs rise, salaries must rise as well. In order for the economy to grow and bring more wealth to all, we are taking care of the workforce.
According to a recent news release from ESDC, starting on April 1, 2023, the federal minimum wage will increase to $16.65. The Consumer Price Index increased by 6.8% last year, which is what caused this move to take place.
Nearly 26,000 Canadians are currently earning less than the federal minimum wage of $15.55 an hour, according to ESDC. A minimum wage rate of $7.25 is set by the federal government for workers and interns in federally regulated commercial sectors, including banks, mail delivery, air, road, rail, postal services, and sea transportation.
Canada’s minimum wage
The federal minimum wage rises faster than the minimum wage in the province or territory where an employer conducts business, requiring them to pay their employees a higher amount.
As of writing, the minimum wage rates in each province and territory of Canada can be found below.
| Province/Territory | Rate | Note(s) |
| Alberta | $15.00 | As of 06/26/2019 |
| British Columbia | $15.65 | As of 06/01/2022 |
| Manitoba | $13.50 | As of 10/01/2022. Set to increase to $14.15 on 04/01/2023, then to $15.30 on 10/01/2023. |
| Ontario | $15.50 | As of 10/01/2022 |
| Saskatchewan | $13.00 | As of 10/01/2022. Set to increase to $14.00 on 10/01/2023, then to $15.00 on 10/01/2024. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $13.70 | As of 10/01/2022. Scheduled to rise to $14.50 on January 4, 2023, and to $15.00 on January 10, 2023. |
| Quebec | $14.25 | As of 05/01/2022 |
| Prince Edward Island | $14.50 | As of 01/01/2023. set to rise to $15 on October 1, 2023. |
| New Brunswick | $13.75 | As of 10/01/2022. slated to rise to $14.75 on April 1, 2023. |
| Nova Scotia | $13.60 | As of 10/01/2022. Scheduled to rise to $14.50 on January 4, 2023, and to $15.00 on January 10, 2023. |
| Nunavut | $16.00 | As of 04/01/2020 |
| Yukon | $15.70 | As of 04/01/2022. scheduled to rise to $16.77 on April 1, 2023. |
| Northwest Territories | $15.20 | As of 09/01/2021 |
Canada’s federal minimum wage will rise by 7% – Newcomer employment rights in Canada
It is common for immigrants from Canada to pursue opportunities that might expose them to exploitation in order to provide for their families and support themselves. Low-paying jobs have an overrepresentation of immigrants in Canada.
It is the responsibility of IRCC to communicate the employment rights of Canadian immigrants so that newcomers are not exploited for their labor.
Workers’ rights in Canada are defined in the Canada Labor Code, which is a piece of federal legislation. All workers (permanent residents, citizens, overseas workers, and overseas students) are granted the right to a safe workplace and fair compensation under this law.
Canada’s federal minimum wage will rise by 7% – knowing your rights
Immigrants in Canada are entitled to several important benefits. They consist of:
- Getting access to data provided to them on behalf of their Canadian employer.
- Employers give employees a signed copy of the employment contract on their first day of work. The employment contract must include the job payment and overtime work terms.
- Training for employment
- Health care services at a reasonable price
It is unlawful for employers to mistreat their employees, including immigrants to Canada. Among the IRCC’s criteria for mistreatment are:
- Employers who force employees to perform unsafe or unauthorized work in violation of their employment agreements
- Employers forcing sick or injured employees to work.
- Exerting pressure on employees who are not entitled to overtime
- Passports and work permits are taken away from employees
- A person’s immigration status can be changed or deported
The Labor Code of Canada requires employers to make reasonable accommodations. Also, this can imply that, depending on the situation, they might need to change the working environment. To maintain a seamless workflow for the immigrant worker, they might need to modify their duties in order to lessen workplace prejudice.
According to the Canadian Human Rights Act, there are eleven different reasons why a worker could face discrimination. They include racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical ability, disability, conviction (for which the person must have gotten a pardon), marital status, and family status.
Employees’ complaints about workplace issues
Depending on the sorts of issues, different reporting requirements apply in Canada. There is a remedy available for employees who experience unfair treatment from their employers or who are subjected to exploitation within the provisions of their employment contract. For assistance, they can get in touch with the province’s or territory’s employment standard office.
Next, persons who are confronted with problems such as being forced to work in dangerous or difficult conditions or in any unsafe setting must notify the province’s or territory’s health and safety authority. The same rules will apply to anyone who sustains an illness or injury as a result of their employment.
Also, anyone who was ill or hurt at work is eligible to receive payments under the workers’ compensation program. These benefits involve the payment made to the employees in lieu of lost wages resulting from sickness or injury.
