FEDERICTON – The N.B. government is postponing its minimum wage hike until the spring to help alleviate the strain on businesses and further examine a two-tiered wage policy.
“Our government has heard from small- and medium-sized businesses that they need time to adjust to the recent successive minimum wage hikes,” said Labour Minister Martine Coulombe in a statement. “That is why we are proposing the minimum wage increase, planned for Sept. 1, be postponed for six months. This period will also enable us to continue to explore the idea of a two-tiered minimum wage.”
New Brunswick minimum wage has steadily increased from $8 in 2009 to $9.50 in 2011. The planned hike will increase minimum wage to $10 per hour on April 1.
The move is already receiving kudos from the foodservice industry. “Postponing the increase is a great first step given the slow economic recovery in the region,” said Luc Erjavec, vice-president of Atlantic Canada for the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association.
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