Sask. minimum wage to go up Oct. 1

Minimum wage earners in the province will be making 22 cents more an hour starting Oct. 1.

The hourly wage for workers is going up to $10.72 from $10.50.

CJME business analyst, Paul Martin, said the rise won’t impact many workers in the province.

“It’s for high school kids and people who have very low skill sets  or are working really part time or something or have some ability to earn additional income—think restaurants and tips,” said Martin.

Saskatchewan was previously tied for the lowest minimum wage in the country at $10.50. Newfoundland and Labrador now has the lowest minimum wage at $10.50. The highest in the country is currently Nunavut at $13.

“It’s not a very big piece of the population and it won’t have much of a ripple effect I don’t think. There will be some businesses that are marginal that will feel it and say I really can’t play this game. But generally, there’s not many people who are on the minimum wage,” said Martin.

Alberta will be increasing their minimum wage to $15 per hour for Oct. 1, 2018.