The minimum wage debate raging in the United States has spilled into Canada sparking renewed interest in government-mandated wage floors. Labour activists are out in full force pushing governments to legislate higher pay for low-wage workers and one version calls on municipalities to decree a living wage law. While these laws may sound like a good idea in theory, they do little to help the most vulnerable workers in practice.
minimum wage
May 25, 2011
6:00PM
The first of three increases in B.C.s minimum wage kicked in on May 1, and while it will undoubtedly be welcomed by workers currently earning the minimum, its too bad their raise comes at the expense of other workers, who will now be unable to find a job or will lose their job as a result of the wage hike. The unpleasant reality is, minimum wage hikes are a job killer that hurt the very people they are intended to help.