Minimum Wage to Increase

Nova Scotia's minimum wage will go up on Oct. 1. The rate will rise 20 cents to $6 an hour.

The minimum wage for inexperienced workers is also increasing by 20 cents an hour, to $5.55. Inexperienced workers have less than three months' experience doing the type of work they are hired to do.

Nova Scotia's minimum wage is reviewed every year. The last series of increases were set for 10 cents per year for three years. The last of these increases took place Oct. 1, 2001.

This latest increase will bring the province's wage on an equal footing with other Atlantic provinces. Prince Edward Island's rate went to $6 an hour in January. The rates in New Brunswick and Newfoundland will rise to $6 per hour in August and November, respectively.

The increase will affect about 15,000 Nova Scotians who work for minimum wage.