Northwest Territories to increase minimum wage by nearly 5.6 per cent

YELLOWKNIFE –

The Northwest Territories authorities says it plans to extend the minimal wage by nearly 5.6 per cent to replicate a rise within the client value index.

The territory says its minimal hourly wage will improve from $15.20 to $16.05 starting Sept. 1.

The Northwest Territories final elevated its minimal wage by $1.74 in September 2021, when it had been unchanged since April 2018.

The territorial authorities says starting this yr, the minimal wage shall be adjusted every September.

This is the primary time it’s utilizing a brand new system primarily based on the share change within the client value index for Yellowknife and the share change within the common hourly wage within the territory for the previous calendar yr.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment says it’s to conduct a public survey on the brand new technique, which goals to take the price of residing into consideration, this fall.

“We recognize that the minimum wage needs to work for both employers and employees,” Minister R.J. Simpson mentioned in an announcement Monday.

“With these planned annual increases, we’re making it easier for businesses to prepare for minimum wage adjustments, while helping to ensure the lowest paid workers in the NWT get regular pay raises.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 10, 2023.