BC raising minimum liquor server wage to $15.20 an hour this June

BC liquor servers will get a pay boost as the lower minimum wage is replaced with the general minimum wage of $15.20 an hour, beginning on June 1, the provincial government announced today.

“I’m proud to put an end to the discriminatory minimum wage for liquor servers, which disproportionally affects women,” said Labour Minister Harry Bains in a release on Friday. “Many of these low-income workers are the most vulnerable in workplaces, including young women as liquor servers and minorities in low-wage jobs.”

The province said this would deliver its 2018 commitment to end the alternative liquor server minimum wage in BC.

June also marks reaching a $15.20 an hour minimum wage through “regular, measured and predictable” increases, which was recommended by the Fair Wages Commission in 2018, as well. Nearly 300,000 workers will get a pay increase as a result of the planned increase.

“Many low-income workers have been essential workers during the pandemic, and it’s only fair they receive the scheduled increase coming to them,” Bains said.

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The minimum wage rates for live-in camp leaders and resident caretakers are also increasing effective June 1:

• General minimum wage increases to $15.20 an hour from $14.60 an hour;
• Liquor server minimum wage of $13.95 an hour is being replaced with the general minimum wage of $15.20 an hour;
• Live-in camp leader minimum wage, per day, increases to $121.65 from $116.86;
• Resident caretaker minimum wage, per month, increases to $912.28, plus $36.56 per suite for those who manage nine to 60 residential suites and to $3,107.42 for 61 or more suites.