BC Minimum Wage Is Going Up Today But It's Still Way Below 'Living Wage'

If you're working at minimum wage in B.C., you just got a raise. The provincial government has announced that B.C.’s minimum wage went up as of Monday, June 1, and now it's over $14 an hour. While this is an improvement, it's still way below the province's “living wage.”

As of Monday, June 1, the minimum wage in the province has risen to $14.60. In June of last year, the minimum wage was $13.85. 

The B.C. government says that this minimum wage is not just for hourly workers.

Regardless of how an employee is paid, this increase will apply even if you are on salary or commission-based pay. 

If an employee's wage is below minimum wage for the hours they worked then the employer must “top up” their payment so it meets the minimum. 

Though, even with this increase, it still remains below the “living wage” in the province.

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In the latest data released by the Living Wage for Families Campaign, minimum wage would need to increase in order to match the living wage of each major B.C. city and region.

In fact, out of all the regions analyzed by the campaign, only two have a living wage that is below the new minimum wage. 

The North Central Region and Cranbrook currently have living wages of $14.03 and $14.38 respectively. 

These living wages are considered to be the hourly amount that two parents would need to earn in order to supply basic needs for a family. This includes food, rent, and transportation. 

Most of B.C. has a living wage that’s far more expensive than the minimum wage being paid out. 

In Vancouver for instance, the living wage is $19.50 an hour. 

This isn’t even the most expensive region as Kitimat has a living wage of $20.61. Golden was not far behind as theirs is $20.46.

Right now, the province with the highest minimum wage is Alberta with $15 an hour. 

Within B.C., the minimum wage is expected to increase again on June 1, 2021, when it will rise to $15.20 an hour.