Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #05-183
July 5, 2005
Public Comments Sought For Fair Wage Schedule Rates
WHITEHORSE - Yukoners are being asked to provide comments on the recommendation to increase the Fair Wage Schedule by 10.9% across-the-board. The Employment Standards Board also recommended an annual increase to the wage rates based on the Consumer Price Index, a measure of Yukon's cost of living.
The Fair Wage Schedule is used for Yukon government construction projects and sets the minimum hourly wage for workers such as cement finishers, welders, carpenters, painters and roofers, heavy equipment operators and labourers. It is also used for Government of Canada construction projects in the Yukon.
"While many Yukon firms already pay their workers wages higher than those set in the Fair Wage Schedule, we would like to know what workers, employers and the general public think about the 10.9% increase recommended by the Board," Community Services Minister Glenn Hart said. "The schedule only sets the minimum wage levels; employers have the discretion to pay their workers more due to experience, performance or for other reasons."
The Employment Standards Board made their recommendation to increase all hourly wage minimums in the Fair Wage Schedule in consideration of the increased cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index from 1998 to the end of 2004.
All Yukoners are invited to provide their comments on the proposed wage rate increase by no later than August 26, 2005. More detailed information on the Fair Wage Schedule, the rate categories and the Employment Standards Board recommendations are available on the Yukon government website: www.gov.yk.ca.
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Contact: |
Dale Kozmen Director - Consumer and Safety Services (867) 667-8290 dale.kozmen@gov.yk.ca |