Monique Jérôme-Forget delighted

The Member of the National Assembly for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Ms. Monique Jérôme-Forget, is delighted to see the minimum wage rise from $8 to $8.50 per hour as of May 1st. This rise of $0.50 is the most important one seen in more than 30 years.

The rate granted to employees who earn tips will go from $7.25 to $7.75 hourly, and the rate paid in certain sectors of the clothing industry will go from $8.25 to $8.50 per hour. As for gatherers of small fruits paid for by volume, they will profit from an increase proportional to that granted to workers paid the general minimum wage.

“This increase will allow workers to improve their purchasing power,” declared Ms. Jérôme-Forget. “The rise in the minimum wage is one of the measures that form part of our plan to fight poverty and social exclusion. It aims to support workers with low incomes in order to increase their standard of living,” added the Member for Marguerite-Bourgeoys. As of May 1st, for example, a person working 40 hours per week at minimum wage will see his or her annual income increase approximately $1,000, a rise of 6.25%.

The increase will benefit 254,000 workers, the majority of whom work in the service industry that is the retail, accommodation and restaurant sectors. In Quebec, it is estimated that nearly 6% of workers are remunerated at minimum wage. “I am proud to be part of a government that contributes in this way to the improved quality of life for workers,” the Member for Marguerite-Bourgeoys concluded.