| Alberta minimum wage rises to $8.00/hour on Sept. 1 |
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(Jun. 18/07) The minimum wage in Alberta will jump from $7.00/hour to $8.00/hour on Sept. 1, 2007. The 14% increase comes on the heels of a 20% wage hike that took effect in September 2005.
CRFA is concerned about the inflationary effect such a steep increase will have on all foodservice wages, and disappointed that the province missed an opportunity to introduce a wage differential for tipped employees and students – an approach that would help employers cope with the severe labour shortage in Alberta.
By holding the minimum wage steady for students, who are gaining first-job experience, as well as for tipped employees, many of whom earn most of their income through gratuities, the province would have given employers more flexibility to target wage increases to back-of-house employees, who are more difficult to attract.
Restaurant wages in Alberta have jumped by an average of 19% in the past two years, or nearly twice the average industrial wage, which is up 10%. Still, the industry is struggling with an estimated shortfall of 11,000 employees.
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