The minimum wage in Quebec increases to $ 16.10 Thursday: dissatisfied and relieved

It is this Thursday that the announced increase in the minimum wage in Quebec is in force. It goes from $ 15.75 per hour to $ 16.10.

When he had announced the upcoming increase on January 31, the minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, said that the increase would result in an increase in disposable income, for workers concerned, of the order of $ 484 per year.

He also mentioned that the increase would benefit 217,400 employees – the number varies from one month to another – mainly in the retail and catering sectors. Of this number, 118,400 are women.

For employees at tip, the increase will be 30 cents per hour. Their minimum wages will increase to $ 12.90 per hour.

Since Quebec announced the upcoming increase, Ontario, with which Quebec often compares, has announced that its minimum wage would climb $ 17.60 on October 1.

Antipodes reactions

A salary increase of 35 cents an hour, It is clearly insufficient! It is an increase of barely 2.2 %. It is at the bottom of the increase in the inflation rate. So, it is certain that it will not have a significant impact in people’s lives. Listen, people will end up with about $ 10 more per week in their pocketsTonnée Serge Petitclerc, spokesperson for the collective for a Quebec without poverty.

He predicts that with such an increase, more people will use food banks, will have to cut on dental care or sight care, will have to call on foundations to pay for school supplies for children or will not take off if they are sick.

Is to put people in impossible situations. That’s it, maintaining a minimum wage that is too low. And yet, the government does not stop breaking our ears, in particular the Minister of Social Solidarity, saying ” The best way to get out of poverty is to go to the labor market ”. Well, that’s not true, because with a minimum wage at $ 16.10 per hour, you’re in poverty.

The Canadian Federation of the Independent Company (FCEI), which brings together small and medium -sized enterprises often using these workers at the minimum wage, finds this increase acceptable.

It is an increase that is reasonable; We recognize it. Then we are happy that the minister did not listen to requests to increase the minimum wage at $ 20 per hour. It would have represented an impact of $ 10 billion in Quebecsaid François Vincent, vice-president for Quebec of the FCEI.

According to him, we must avoid A STUDEMENT OF BUSINESsince with an increase too marked, several would no longer be profitable. Without Students will leave school benches to work If the minimum wage becomes too enticing, he says.