Federation of labour is dissatisfied with the provincial government
Workers demand raising minimum wage.
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), an organization that advocates for workers' rights in the province, calls on the provincial government to raise the minimum wage. The Federation of Labour believes that inflation and rising utility costs will negatively affect the lives of working residents in the province.
Utility costs in Saskatchewan will increase by 4% in April. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan's minimum wage is CAD 13 per hour, the lowest among the provinces. And while there are plans to raise the minimum wage to CAD 15 per hour by 2024, Lori Johb, president of SFL, doesn't think that's enough.
"We know the cost of living wage in two of our major centres in this province is well over CAD 17 an hour," Johb said. She believes the minimum wage should be raised to CAD 15 an hour now.
Last year, the Saskatchewan government spoke about a workers shortage in the labor market. Lori Johb believes that low wage is the reason for that and now local workers have to make ends meet.
"If people were getting paid a decent livable wage, that would be an incentive to stay here," Johb said.
Saskatchewan government, responding to the Federation of Labour, said it is needed to balance the needs of employers and workers when making minimum wage adjustments.
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