Minimum wage increase tightens pockets of business owners

Come Saturday, the minimum wage will have a 9.5 per cent increase, rising to $13.85 from $12.65.

According to the provincial government, the regular increases to the minimum wage is one way they’re helping to make life more affordable for people.

However, President of Downtown Prince George told MyPGNow that the increase will put some strain on the pockets of business owners.

“This will create a real crunch. They’re going to have to find new ways to save with increased prices and pass that along to their customers, or they’re really going to struggle in staying afloat.”

Effective June 1, the general minimum wage will see the $1.20 increase. As for liquor servers, their wage will see an increase of 11.4 per cent to $12.70.

“Restaurants are going to have to get creative. Perhaps finding ways to operate with less staff. You’re going to see prices increase across the board for liquor and food over the coming of months, as well as the next few years as these increases continue.

Resident caretakers minimum wage, per month, will increase by 9.5 per cent to 831.45 for those who manage nine to 60 units, or $2,832.11 for 61 or more units.

Live-in camp leaders will see a 9.5 per cent increase to their daily wage, which will become $110.87.

This will mark the second of four increases to the province’s lowest-paid workers. June 1 will mark the day of the increase each year. The increases are the result of recommendations from the independent Fair Wages Commission, which was established in 2017 to advise the government with an approach to raising provincial minimum wages with increases that are regular, measured and predictable.

According to Foley, the pool of jobs at the minimum wage rate is going to begin shrinking as the inflation for goods also rises as a way to compensate with higher wages.

By June of 2021, BC’s minimum wage will reach at least $15.20 per hour and a lower liquor server wage will be eliminated.