Minimum wage workers in B.C. will earn 45 cents more per hour, but a Richmond News poll shows more than 50 per cent of respondents think the increase is “absolutely not” high enough.
As of June 1, the minimum wage in B.C. went up from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province, according to B.C. Ministry of Labour.
“Having a fair minimum wage is a key step in helping to lift more people out of poverty, make life more affordable and build a strong economy for B.C.,” Minister of Labour Harry Bains said in an announcement. “We will continue to advocate for fair wages for all workers, especially those low-income workers who have been so essential to our health and well-being during the pandemic.”
However, folks on social media are mocking the small increase.
“Gee, thanks. A few more pennies thrown to us peasants,” said one netizen in their post. “High enough? What a joke!”
Others are complaining about the high living cost: “Gas prices raised by dollars, house by millions, and minimum wages by cents.” A netizen asked, “Can they just lower the cost of living?”
As B.C.’s inflation rate spikes to 6. per cent, hitting a 31-year high, many Richmondites have been struggling to cover the bills.
“No way is it enough to offset the increase in the cost of living, and especially increased rent,” said De Whalen, president of Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition (RPRC).
“If you were to pay what they call ‘affordable housing rent’ on that kind of a wage, the rent would be about $750 a month. And where can you ever find that in Richmond?... You’re paying at least twice that,” Whalen added.
“If they’re paying way more than 30 per cent on their housing, then the money’s got to come from somewhere, from their food budget, from the transit budget...(or) gas budget. And there’s really nothing left for saving, for even going out for coffee with your friends,” said Whalen, “It’s called a minimum wage for a reason. I guess it’s a minimum wage way of living.”
The minimum wage in B.C. has been increasing five years in a row, starting from $12.65 per hour in 2018, and this increase is the smallest in that time.
Whalen acknowledged things have improved dramatically in recent years. “However, it’s still not keeping up with the cost of living.”
Food bank lineups are getting longer, with more seniors and families, said Whalen.
More people are also showing up for free community meals, she added.
“Our stats (through the food bank) report about 4,300 free meals per month are prepared for food bank and community meals guests.
“That’s how people are coping,” said Whalen. “None of this is solving the problem of poverty.”
As part of the Living Wage for Families campaign, Whalen has been encouraging employers to pay a living wage and advocates for government policies that would help working families make ends meet.
The living wage is the hourly amount of pay a family needs to cover basic expenses. These expenses include food, clothing, rent, childcare, transportation, and other incidental expenses, but not debt payments, holiday travel, saving for owning a home, retirement or education, and costs of caring for a disabled, seriously ill or elderly family member.
According to Living Wage For Families BC, Metro Vancouver’s living wage is $20.52 an hour — about $5 above the minimum wage.
Whalen said RPRC has approached the City of Richmond asking them to ensure contract workers, doing work for the city, receive a living wage.
City council, in turn, has asked city staff to look into the impact of asking contractors to pay a living wage, and this will come back later in a report to council.
