Reminder: Quebec's minimum wage will increase next month

While the pandemic has ravaged its way throughout the world’s economy, Quebec’s lowest-paid employees will still be getting a raise, as the minimum wage is set to increase throughout the province.

Originally announced in December 2019, Quebec’s Labour Minister Jean Boulet stated that minimum wage is going up 60 cents an hour, totalling $13.10 per hour, starting on May 1, 2020.

Minimum wage in Quebec is currently $12.50 per hour.

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Part of the Coalition Avenir Québec’s (CAQ) campaign promise was to increase the province’s minimum wage year-by-year towards $15 an hour.

Notre gouvernement est fier de maintenir son engagement en confirmant la hausse du salaire minimum. Il s’agit d’un geste concret permettant de favoriser la reprise économique du Québec. https://t.co/Q4LxQRC5Mx pic.twitter.com/9oZB8NCc2A

— Jean Boulet (@JeanBoulet10) April 15, 2020

The minimum wage rate for employees who make tips in Quebec will also increase, by 40 cents, totalling $10.45 an hour.

Quebec has one of the lowest incomes per capita in the country. The average hourly wage in Quebec is $24.92 an hour, which is below the national average ($27.70).

In 2017, Quebec’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) was $39,000 per citizen, higher only than the Maritime provinces. The highest GDP in Canada is in Alberta at $60,000 per person.