Ontario Minimum Wage 2024: When Will the Increase Happen?
For the most accurate and current information, I recommend checking official government sources, news outlets, or the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s website. They would provide the latest updates on the minimum wage increase and related details for 2024.
Ontario Minimum Wage Increase
The minimum wage is the lowest legal amount that employers can pay to their workers. It applies to a broad range of employees, whether they work on an hourly, piece rate, or flat-rate basis, and whether they are full-time, part-time, or casual workers.
In Canada, minimum wage rates vary among provinces and territories, often linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for periodic adjustments. In Ontario, for instance, the minimum wage increased on October 1, 2023.
Minimum Wage in Ontario
Starting October 1, 2023, the minimum hourly wage in Ontario has been raised to $16.55. Apart from the standard minimum wage, the province of Ontario also has specific rates tailored for particular groups of workers.
Information regarding the Minimum Wage increase in Ontario is available on the official website of the Ontario Government and the minimum wage database.
General:
The current general minimum wage rates in Ontario apply to most workers. As of October 1, 2023, the minimum wage for general workers is $16.55 per hour. This rate is effective from Oct 1, 2023, to Sep 30, 2024. Previously, it was $15.50 per hour (Oct 1, 2022 – Sep 30, 2023), $15 per hour (Jan 1, 2022, to Sep 30, 2022), and $14.35 per hour (Oct 1, 2021, to Dec 31, 2021). Student:
This rate is for eligible student workers in Ontario. The current student minimum wage is $15.60 per hour. Previously, it was $14.60 per hour (Oct 1, 2022 – Sep 30, 2023), $14.10 per hour (Jan 1, 2022, to Sep 30, 2022), and $13.50 per hour (Oct 1, 2021, to Dec 31, 2021). This student rate is applicable until September 30, 2024. Liquor servers:
Liquor Servers in Ontario have the same minimum wage as General Workers. The current minimum wage for Liquor Servers is effective until September 30, 2024. Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides:
The current minimum wage for these workers is $82.85 (less than 5 hours a day) and $165.75 (more than 5 hours a day). Their rules differ from general, liquor servers, and students. Wilderness guides engage in activities like hiking, survival training, wildlife viewing, dogsledding, back-country skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, etc. Homeworkers:
The current minimum wage for homeworkers is $18.20 per hour. This rate is applicable until September 30, 2024. Details about the work, applicable minimum wage, and previous wages for these specialized and general workers are provided by the Ontario Government on its website.
Additional rules for workers earning commission, receiving room and board, and the three-hour rule exist for different situations and worker types.
To ensure correct minimum wage compliance, employers can consider providing room and board, which is considered part of the wage if the worker has occupied the room and received meals.
The amounts employers should pay for room and board are as follows:
Room: $31.70 (private) | $15.85 (non-private) Meals: $2.55 (each meal) | $53.55 (weekly maximum) Rooms and Meals (Weekly): $85.25 (with a private room) | $69.40 (with a non-private room) | $53.55 (non-private for domestic workers) Harvest workers weekly housing: $99.35 (service housing) | $73.30 (unserviced housing)
When will Minimum Wage Increase in 2024?
In Ontario, the minimum wage is linked to an annual indexation, determined by the inflation rate. Any changes to the minimum wage will be announced on or before April 1 but won’t be implemented until October 1.
If the government opts to raise the minimum wage in 2024, the change is likely to take effect from October 1, 2024, onward. Should the minimum wage adjustment occur within a worker’s pay period, it will be treated as two distinct pay periods, and workers will receive the applicable minimum wage for each.
The recent elevation to $16.55 per hour has resulted in increased earnings for numerous workers in Ontario. This recent adjustment has positioned Ontario with one of the highest minimum wage rates among Canadian provinces.