Manitoba Minimum Wage Rises

On April 1, the minimum hourly wage in Manitoba rose to $8.

Manitoba's minimum wage increased by 40 cents per hour on April 1. The new minimum wage is $8 an hour, keeping Manitoba in a position near the middle of rates among Canadian jurisdictions.

At the new rate, someone who works 40 hours a week at the minimum wage will earn $320, up from $304 under the previous minimum wage of $7.60 per hour. Last year, Manitoba's minimum wage increased 35 cents per hour. With the latest increase, the rate has increased by 33 per cent since 1999.

"The minimum wage is an important tool in keeping Manitoba competitive and in increasing the purchasing power of lower-income individuals," said Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan. "The wage must reflect the realities of today's economy and increases must be gradually introduced to address the business community's concerns."

The government's approach has been to make regular, incremental increases in order to balance the need to maintain the purchasing power of the minimum wage with the ability of employers to pay. Increasing the minimum wage is an important element in attracting people into the labour market and is part of a strategy to assist low-income Manitobans, noted Allan.