Families in Manitoba will soon benefit from an increase to the minimum wage that comes into effect today, October 1. This announcement was made by Labour and Immigration Minister Erna Braun.
“The Manitoba government has increased the minimum wage every year since 2000, and this most recent increase builds on our efforts to improve the lives of working people and their families, such as creating 14,000 daycare spaces since 1999 and investing $25 million over the next five years in 5,000 new spaces,” said Minister Braun. “Helping to put more money in the pockets of workers helps to keep our economy prosperous, so families can continue to build futures right here in Manitoba.”
The increase of 30 cents per hour brings the current minimum wage to $11 from $10.70 and will make Manitoba the fourth highest among other Canadian jurisdictions.
To keep the province competitive for businesses, the Manitoba government has eliminated the small business tax. In 1999, Manitoba had the highest small business tax rate in Canada, said Minister Braun, adding the province is the only one in the country to have completely eliminated its small business tax, removing 12,000 businesses from the tax rolls and saving each small business owner $55,000 every year.
Information on the minimum wage and other employment standards is available at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards.
