Minimum wage increases in Manitoba [Video]

Manitoba’s minimum wage increased Tuesday.

The beginning of October meant the wage grew 50 cents to $15.80 per hour.

The increase is part of a formula set out by provincial law that ties minimum wage increases to the rate of inflation during the previous calendar year.

“That just means as the cost of goods and services that we buy, like housing and groceries go up, the minimum wage goes up by the same overall percentage,” said Jesse Hajer, an economics and labour studies associate professor at the University of Manitoba.

However, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) said the new rate is far from what it actually costs to live in Manitoba.

A living wage of $19.21 an hour would cover those basics and allow workers to be able to meet their basic needs,” said Molly McCracken, the director of the CCPA.

If the minimum wage goes any higher, it could be bad news …