BC Minimum Wage Increases June 1st

The first of the planned increases of the minimum wage to $15 per hour took effect June 1st, 2018.

Effective June 1, 2018:

  • General minimum wage increases 11.5% to $12.65 per hour, an increase of $1.30 per hour.
  • Liquor server minimum wage increases 12.9% to $11.40 per hour, an increase of $1.30 per hour.
  • Resident caretaker minimum wage, per month, will increase 11.5% to $759.32 for those that manage from nine to 60 units (plus $30.43 per unit), or $2,586.40, for 61 or more units.
  • Live-in camp leader minimum wage, per day, will increase 11.5% to $101.24

By June 2021, British Columbia’s general minimum wage will rise to at least $15.20 per hour, and the separate lower liquor server wage will be eliminated.

The BC Government has announced that the minimum wage will reach at least $15.20 by June 01, 2021.  The BBOT acknowledges that these increases will be spread out over 3.5 years and have been published in advance, which does give business some time to plan and adjust.  However, we are disappointed that a longer timeline was not implemented and that the increases are so front-loaded, with a $2.50 increase within the next 16 months.  For some of our members this will be a hardship.  Read the BBOT’s report on the minimum wage, “Getting to 15”. 

The schedule of increases to the hourly minimum wage is:

June 1, 2018: Increase to $12.65 ($1.30 increase)
June 1, 2019: Increase to $13.85 ($1.20 increase)
June 1, 2020: Increase to $14.60 ($0.75 increase)
June 1, 2021: Increase to $15.20 ($0.60 increase)