Nova Scotia Minimum Wage to Rise

The Department of Environment and Labour is reminding employers and employees that the province's minimum wage will rise by 35 cents on April 1, 2006, to $7.15 per hour.

The last increase was in October 2005, when the minimum rate rose to $6.80 per hour. Both increases were announced in May 2005.

The minimum wage for inexperienced workers -- those with less than three months employed in the type of work they are hired to do -- will rise by 35 cents to $6.70 per hour on April 1.

By law, Nova Scotia's minimum wage is reviewed annually by a committee that prepares a report for the Minister of Environment and Labour. The committee has equal representation from employers and employees.

About 21,900 Nova Scotians currently work for minimum wage. The change in the minimum wage rate will increase their gross yearly income by about $728.

Nova Scotia's minimum wage remains higher than New Brunswick's and Newfoundland's. Prince Edward Island's minimum wage rate will also increase to $7.15 on April 1.