01/21/10—CLAC Clarifies Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Proposal
CLAC has sent a further submission to the Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Board to clarify its proposal on a tiered wage for younger workers. CLAC is recommending a $0.57 cent increase in Saskatchewan’s minimum hourly wage for younger workers, a smaller increase than that proposed for older workers in order to increase youth employment. Studies have shown that youth employment rates decrease as minimum wage rates increase.
One of the major barriers to youth employment is lack of experience. CLAC strongly supports increasing opportunities for youth to obtain employment. However, it wants to ensure that minimum wage levels do not negatively impact the employability of young people. CLAC is prepared to recommend that the increase of $0.63 per hour apply to all workers if the government determines a tiered wage would negatively affect youth employment.