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New report shows that more and more Ontarians are working for minimum wage.
Toronto (09 Oct. 2013) - A new report takes a closer look at who is earning low wages in Ontario. The Wellesley Institute, a respected non-governmental organization, examined data from Statistics Canada for the years 2003 to 2011 and found:
- the share of Ontario workers earning the minimum wage has doubled since 2003 from 4.3 to nine per cent
- young workers, between the ages of 15 and 24, are much more likely to be making the minimum wage than older workers
- however, 40 per cent of minimum wage earners are 25 years of age and older
- women, racialized workers and recent immigrants are more likely to be working for minimum wage
- another one million workers earn slightly more, between $10.25 and $14.25 an hour
- 60 per cent of this group are 25 years of age and older
- minimum wage earners and those workers who earn slightly more account for 25 per cent of the workforce
- put another way, one out of four Ontario workers earns poverty-level or below poverty-level wages
- raising the minimum wage would raise the floor for all Ontario workers
The Ontario government has appointed a panel to advise it on a minimum wage increase. The President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) Warren (Smokey) Thomas will give a presentation to the panel at community consultations in Kingston on November 6.
More information:
Raise the minimum wage campaign
Wellesley Institute report: Who is working for minimum wage in Ontario
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE