One month after the last minimum wage increase the province has announced that they would like to increase it again. On October 1st the minimum wage increased to $14.35 per hour. The proposed changes would see this increased to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2022. The Ontario government has stated the reason for the increase is to keep up with the cost of living that has increased considerably during the pandemic.
In addition to the increase, the Liquor Servers Minimum Wage will be eliminated. These employees will now see an increase from $12.55 per hour to the General rate of $15.00 per hour. The belief was that customer tipping made up the difference, however more of these workers have seen their tips pooled and redistributed among staff. This change would see these workers treated more fairly.
Minimum Wage Rate | Rates from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 | Rates from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 | Proposed increase as of January 1, 2022 |
General Minimum Wage | $14.25 per hour | $14.35 per hour | $15.00 per hour |
Student Minimum Wage | $13.40 per hour | $13.50 per hour | $14.10 per hour |
Liquor Servers Minimum Wage | $12.45 per hour | $12.55 per hour | $15.00 per hour |
For more information on the minimum wage please visit Ontario Minimum Wage