Advisory Panel to report to government in December
The Ontario government appointed a Minimum Wage Advisory Panel in June 2013 to give advice on how to set the minimum wage.
Although ISAC mainly works on social assistance issues, the minimum wage is an important part of ensuring income security for Ontarians and their families.
So we wanted to give the Panel our perspective on this issue.
Our submission:
- supports the 25in5 Network’s proposal that the minimum wage should be set at a level that lifts minimum-wage workers out of poverty, adjusted annually for inflation, and reviewed periodically by an independent body;
- supports the call from the Raise the Minimum Wage Campaign to immediately raise the minimum wage to $14 / hour;
- calls on the Panel to bring forward recommendations to government to extend minimum wage protections to workers who are currently exempt; and,
- calls on the Panel to bring forward recommendations to highlight the role of other employment and labour market policies that would help ensure that jobs provide the income security and stability that Ontarians require.
The minimum wage can help ensure income security, but it can also help reduce poverty and income inequality, and help close the gap between the wages of racialized and non-racialized workers, men and women, and recent immigrants and longer-term residents.
Download ISAC’s submission: Submission To The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel - 2013