November 2, 2021 by Israel Foulon LLP
On November 2, 2021, the provincial government announced plans to introduce legislation that would enact sweeping changes to the province’s minimum wage rates. If passed, the minimum hourly wage rates will receive the following increases effective January 1, 2022:
- General Minimum Wage: $15.00/hour (from $14.35/hour)
- Student Minimum Wage: $14.10/hour (from $13.50/hour)
- Homeworkers: $16.50/hour (from $15.80/hour)
Most notably, the proposed legislation would eliminate the special minimum wage rate for liquor servers. Servers would be entitled to receive the regular minimum wage rate (up from $12.55 per hour currently). The province indicated that the proposed change is in response to lagging wage rates and a growing industry practice to share or redistribute tips/gratuities.
The proposed change could see full-time minimum wage workers receive an increase in wages of up to $1,350.00 per year.
You can review the full Ontario Newsroom press release HERE.
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