Minimum Wage and Minimum Wage Regulation

The following questions and answers are for information purposes only. For actual interpretation and application purposes refer to the Employment Standards Act and regulations, or contact an Employment Standards Officer in the Labour Services Office on the 3rd Floor of the Law Centre, 2130-2nd Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon or call (867) 667-5944 (toll free within the Yukon 1-800-661-0408 extension 5944).

1. What is the minimum wage?
   
   Effective April 1, 2007, the Yukon Minimum Wage is $8.37.
   
   Each April 1^st thereafter the Minimum Wage will be adjusted based on the previous calendar year's Consumer Price Index (Whitehorse). News Release...
   
   
2. Must all employees be paid minimum wage?
   
   Yes, all employees, regardless of age, must be paid at least minimum wage.
   
   
3. Can an employer hire employees who are under 17 years old?
   
   Employers can hire employees who are younger than 17 years, but their employment must not interfere with school attendance if the employee is registered in school. There are prohibitions against hiring persons under 17 years of age in certain occupations such as underground mining.
   
   
4. What is the minimum wage for a domestic, farm worker, guide or person employed by an outfitter?
   
   If these employees are not paid an hourly rate or on piece work, then their minimum wage is 8 hours multiplied by $8.37 or $66.96 for each day or part day worked.
   
   
5. What about a piece worker or someone paid a commission?
   
   The minimum wage for these employees is calculated by multiplying the standard hours worked in a pay period by the minimum wage. For example, an employee works 72 hours in a 2 week period. The minimum wage for this employee is $602.64 (72 hours X $8.37).
   
   
6. Do taxi drivers have to be paid minimum wage?
   
   Minimum wage for a taxi driver is calculated by multiplying the number of standard and overtime hours worked in a pay period by the regular and overtime minimum wage. If the commissions earned by the taxi driver in a pay period do not equal the amount calculated as the minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.
   
   
7. Can employees earning minimum wage be charged for room and board?
   
   An employee earning minimum wage can be charged for room and board provided there is a written agreement and provided the charge is not more than $5.00 per day.
   
   
8. What can a person earning more than the minimum wage be charged for room and board?
   
   A person earning more than minimum wage can be charged more than $5.00 per day for room and board provided there is a written agreement, and provided the charge does not reduce the employee's earnings below the minimum wage minus $5.00 per day.