Introduction
The minimum wage rates in Alberta are fixed by the government, and it depends on your city or area. The current minimum wage is $15 per hour. In this post, you will get to know what is minimum wage in Alberta along with the exemption to minimum wage laws in Alberta.
What is Minimum Wage in Alberta?
The minimum wage in Alberta is $15 per hour. This is a rate that will increase every year until it reached $15.40 in January 2021 and $16.00 in January 2022.
As of 2019, Alberta has the highest minimum wage in Canada at over 1/3rd higher than Ontario’s (which currently has the second highest rate after British Columbia). While this is great news for workers who earn on average about $10/hr or less here in Alberta–and those looking for work–it also means that domestic help who do not work full time may find themselves earning less than their counterparts elsewhere!
There are still several exceptions where employers can avoid paying overtime pay.
Overview of Minimum Wage in Alberta
The minimum wage in Alberta is the lowest in Canada. The province has more than 500,000 employees earning a minimum wage, which works out to about 10 percent of its workforce.
The provincial government sets the minimum wage through legislation, but employers can also adjust their pay rates based on local conditions and market conditions.
If you’re wondering what your current salary is as an Alberta employee and whether it’s okay for you to ask for more money at work, check out our article about how much does someone make on average?
History of Minimum Wage Increases in Alberta
In Alberta, the minimum wage has been increased every year since 2015. The 2016 increase was tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures changes in prices for goods and services.
The CPI is published by Statistics Canada on December 1st of each calendar year and can be used as an indication of how much money people need to earn on average each month to meet their basic needs and also for saving money for future expenses. The current rate applies until October 31st of next year; after that date, it will automatically increase again by $0.50 per hour until 2020 when it reaches $15/hr
Exceptions to Minimum Wage Laws in Alberta
The minimum wage laws do not apply to several workers, such as students and liquor servers. These exceptions are based on the type of work being done and the type of employer.
The Alberta government has also created an exemption for farm workers who live on farms and receive their wages directly from their employer, allowing them to be paid less than other employees.
The general minimum wage in Alberta is $15.00 per hour. The minimum wage for liquor servers is $12.20 per hour and the minimum wage for students is $11.20 per hour.
Alberta has several exceptions to the general minimum wage laws. The Alberta government has created an exemption for farm workers who live on farms and receive their wages directly from their employer, allowing them to be paid less than other employees.
Domestic Employee Wage Rates
Domestic employees are people who work in a private household and usually include cooks, housekeepers, nannies, and babysitters. Domestic employees are not paid minimum wage by law. However, they may be paid less than the minimum wage if they fall under certain exemptions or conditions (e.g., religious organizations).
Domestic employees who work more than four hours per week must be paid at least $10 an hour; domestic workers who also perform duties outside of their home cannot be exempt from paying overtime wages under Alberta’s Employment Standards Code (see below).
Domestic staff typically receive payment through a payroll system that includes both pay stubs and direct deposit into bank accounts or prepaid credit cards.
Do I Get Severance if I Am Fired From a Minimum-wage Job?
If you are fired from a minimum-wage job, you might be entitled to severance. Severance is money that an employer pays their employee if they terminate them without just cause or redundancy. There is no minimum wage for interns and there are also different rules depending on what kind of employee you are.
If an employer terminates your employment without just cause or redundancy and they want to pay you less than the minimum wage, then they must pay at least equal to what would have been owed had they not terminated your employment (i.e., one week’s worth). If this amount exceeds what would have been owed had it not been for termination then it becomes part of their annual salary package instead of being paid separately as severance payments.
Conclusion
The Alberta minimum wage is the lowest standard for employees in Canada. It applies to most workers in the province but doesn’t apply to students or people under 18 years old. Hope, this article helps you to know about the minimum wages offered in Alberta.
FAQs on minimum wage in Alberta
1. What is the lowest salary in Alberta?
According to the Employment Standards Code, Alberta’s general minimum wage is currently $15 per hour. Expenses and tips are not included in the minimum wage. A weekly minimum pay of $598 is due to salespeople.
2. Will Alberta increase the minimum wage?
as of October 1, 2022. The province has a five-step plan in place to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 by April 1st, 2024. The minimum wage rate will increase by 1% yearly starting on April 1, 2025, plus inflation. Read the Minimum Wage Revision Committee’s report for further details.
3. How many hours is full-time in Alberta?
You have a full-time job if you are employed by a single company for more than 30 hours per week and are on that company’s payroll. Full-time work can be in any of the following forms: You may work a regular 8-hour shift five days a week.
