1. Increase the minimum wage to ensure a life for workers in Canada

A 6.8% increase in the consumer price index in 2022 has raised the federal minimum wage to $16.65 CAD since April 1st, 2023. This adjustment shows that workers in Canada are always taken care of, because they are the ones who help develop the economy and create prosperity for the country. 

The federal minimum wage applies to workers and interns in federally regulated private sectors. Includes banking, postal and courier services, as well as intercity air, rail, road and sea transport.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) also notes that about 26,000 workers in Canada are working earning less than $15.55 CAD per hour, which is the current federal minimum wage.

2. Minimum wage in each province of Canada

Each province of Canada has a different standard of living, so employees working in each separate province will be prescribed a different minimum wage. 

After the federal minimum wage is increased, the employer will pay the employee according to mutual agreement. Choose between the federal minimum wage or the minimum wage in their province/territory of operation.

Minimum wages in each province/territory across Canada were adjusted after April 1, 2023 in order of highest to lowest:

STT	Province/Territory	Wage	Time application
1	Yukon	$16,77	01/04/2023
2	Nunavut	$16,00	01/04/2020
3	British Columbia	$15,65	01/06/2022
4	Ontario	$15,50	01/10/2022
5	Northwest Territories	$15,20	01/09/2021
6	Alberta	$15,00	26/06/2019
7	New Brunswick	$14,75	01/04/2023
8	Newfoundland and Labrador	$14,50	01/04/2023 Expected to increase to $15.00 on October 1st, 2023.
9	Prince Edward Island	$14,50	01/01/2023 Expected to increase to $15.00 on October 1st, 2023.
10	Nova Scotia	$14,50	01/04/2023 Expected to increase to $15.00 on October 1st, 2023.
11	Québec	$14,25	01/05/2022
12	Manitoba	$14,15	01/04/2023 It is expected to increase to $15.30 on October 1st, 2023.
13	Saskatchewan	$13,00	01/10/2022.  It is expected to increase to $14.00 on October 1st, 2023 and $15.00 on October 1st, 2024.

With wages above $15/hour, the major provinces attracting Canadian skilled immigrants such as Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario are the top regions with the highest pay for workers.

3. How to calculate the Canadian minimum wage

Minimum wage is the lowest salary calculated per hour of work that an employer pays an employee. The calculation of the annual minimum wage for workers in Canada will be the provincial/federal minimum wage multiplied by total hours worked during the year. 

For example:

Minimum wage in Alberta: $15/hour

Full-time employees: 40 hours/week

⇢ The annual salary (52 weeks) is: 15*40*52= $31,200/year. ($2,600/month, about 44,788,359 VND)

With this salary, it will be enough for workers or international students to cover daily living expenses at a basic level. 

4. Employment rights for newcomers to Canada

Under the Labor Code, all workers in Canada have the right to be paid for their work and to be safe in the workplace. In addition, they will have a number of other benefits such as:

• Get information about their rights provided by the employer.

• A copy of the legal employment contract, stating the salary for the job as well as clearly stated overtime terms (if any).

• Vocational skills training to meet job requirements.

• Reasonable health care service

Canadian workers who feel that their wages are not being paid properly, are being treated unfairly, or that their employment agreements are not being respected can contact their provincial employment support office/ territory for support.

For those required to perform hazardous work, or to work in generally unsafe conditions, problems may be reported to the provincial/territory workplace health and safety office fit. The same goes for workers who are injured or sick as a result of their work.

Workers who become sick or injured while on the job can also apply for workers' compensation benefits, which are payments designed to make up for lost wages due to injury or illness. .

To learn more about Canada and the latest Canadian immigration and study abroad programs, contact iCanfield here.