Amidst difficult economic circumstances, minimum wage rates in Ontario are still set to increase on October 1, 2020. Under the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, this scheduled increase is tied to the Ontario Consumer Price Index for 2020.
Effective next week, the general minimum wage rate will increase by 25 cents, bringing it to $14.25 per hour. The student minimum wage rate will increase to $13.40 per hour. The liquor server minimum wage rate will increase to $12.45 per hour. And the homeworker minimum wage rate will increase to $15.70 per hour.
For employers with team members who are working from home, whether just amidst the pandemic or as a matter of course, an assessment should be undertaken to ensure that the wages paid to these remote workers align with the applicable minimum wage rate for homeworkers.
In addition to those rates mentioned above, the various other minimum wage rates prescribed by the Employment Standards Act, 2000 will also increase on October 1. A complete listing of the minimum wage rate increases can be found on the Government of Ontario's website.
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