Premier John Horgan recently announced that the minimum wage rate in British Columbia will rise to $15 per hour by 2021 – a 34% increase over four years. The minimum wage for workers in British Columbia is currently $11.35.
The minimum wage in British Columbia will increase according to the following schedule:
- June 1, 2018: $12.65 ($1.30 increase)
- June 1, 2019: $13.85 ($1.20 increase)
- June 1, 2020: $14.60 ($0.75 increase)
- June 1, 2021: $15.20 ($0.60 increase)
The provincial government states that the rate increase is incremental to “allow businesses and employers to plan for predictable and stable increases in wages over time.” Although the minimum wage rate applies to the vast majority of workers in British Columbia, liquor servers, farm workers, and resident caretakers are subject to different minimum wage rates. The provincial government has not announced whether the minimum rate for these workers will see a corresponding increase.
Given that the first wage rate increase is scheduled to occur in June, employers are encouraged to make the appropriate plans to absorb additional labor costs.
