{"id":67937,"date":"2023-08-10T14:57:14","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T21:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/?post_type=engagement&#038;p=67937"},"modified":"2023-08-10T14:57:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T21:57:14","slug":"fair-wages-commission","status":"publish","type":"engagement","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/fair-wages-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Fair Wages Commission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group engage-banner has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbda80\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top\">Phase 1 was open October 26 to December 7, 2017<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phase 2 was open April 11 to June 28, 2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-67966\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr.jpg\" style=\"object-position:53% 30%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"53% 30%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/RS3542_BCGov_130719_SaanichOrganics_124-lpr-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-container\"><div class=\"engagement-page\"><div class=\"engagement-content-wrapper\"><h1 class=\"engagement-title-banner \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/themes\/bcgov-engagement\/dist\/images\/blue-curve-bg.svg)\">Fair Wages Commission<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-content\"><bcgov-breadcrumb>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\">Home<\/a>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/\">Engagement Opportunities<\/a> \n                  <span>\n        Fair Wages Commission\n  <\/span>\n  <div style=\"display: flex\" slot=\"breadcrumb-extra\">\n      <\/div>\n  <\/bcgov-breadcrumb>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>On this page:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#summary\" title=\"\">Engagement summary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#task1\" title=\"\">Task 1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#task2\" title=\"\">Task 2<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/task3\" title=\"\">Task 3<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who: <\/strong>The Ministry of Labour<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What: <\/strong>To determine and establish minimum wage needs and review processes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Province-wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why:<\/strong> To ensure minimum wage keeps up with cost of living<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How: <\/strong>Online<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-engagement_category wp-block-post-terms\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\"><strong>Category: <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/economy-and-jobs\/\" rel=\"tag\">Economy and Jobs<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><span role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"engagement-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/12\/RS708_5903-scaled.jpg);background-position:57.99999999999999% 35%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Engagement summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Phase 1: The Fair Wages Commission was established in 2017 to advise government on how to raise minimum wages with increases that are regular, measured, and predictable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phase 2: In 2019, the Commission sought feedback on living wages with the goal of closing the gap between the minimum wage and a living wage. A living wage is defined as the hourly rate at which a household can meet its basic needs based on the actual costs of living in a specific community. A living wage is generally higher than a minimum wage because it considers what earners in a family need to bring home based on the actual costs of living in a specific community. The minimum wage is the legislated minimum set by the provincial government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tasks and results of the Commission&#8217;s work are broken down below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"task1\">Task 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Task 1 \u2013 Develop recommendations for a path forward to raise the minimum wage to $15-an-hour, as well as a process for how the minimum wage should be regularly reviewed and increased once $15-an-hour is achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Commission\u2019s consultations occurred in November and December 2017. The first report was delivered to the Minister of Labour in early 2018 with recommendations about the timing of increases for the general minimum wage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/237\/2018\/02\/Report-1_BC-Fair-Wages-Commission_Jan-2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the report<\/a>&nbsp;with recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"task2\">Task 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Task 2 \u2013 Consider and make recommendations about other wage rates under the Employment Standards Regulation, for agricultural workers, liquor servers, live-in home support workers, resident caretakers, and live-in camp leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Commission\u2019s second report was delivered in April 2018 with recommendations on wage increases for alternate minimum wage earners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/news.gov.bc.ca\/releases\/2018LBR0011-000674\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">government\u2019s response<\/a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/237\/2018\/04\/FWC_Second_Report_March_2018_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">second report<\/a>&nbsp;with recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the commission\u2019s second report, UBC agriculture economist Dr. Karen Taylor undertook a study on B.C.\u2019s piece-rate system. <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2019\/12\/FINAL-Piece-Rate-Study-K-Taylor-Jan-2019-1.pdf\" title=\"\">Read Dr. Taylor\u2019s Piece Rate Study: exploring the economic impact of the piece rate system in British Columbia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"task3\">Task 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Task 3 \u2013 Advise the government on ways to address the discrepancy between the minimum wage and a living wage in our province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Commission\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/08\/FWC-Report-Living-Wage-2023-Final.pdf\" title=\"\">third report<\/a> was delivered in April 2023. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It provided a comprehensive review of living wages in B.C., analyzed factors affecting a living wage in different communities and jurisdictions in the province and elsewhere, and described the challenges and opportunities of moving towards living wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report concluded that government-wide measures \u2013 such as reduced childcare costs, minimum wage increases, increased housing, hydro and ICBC rate reductions, eliminating Medical Services Plan premiums, addressing food insecurity, and other social policies \u2013 are the key factors helping to moderate the gap between minimum and living wages in B.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report also noted the important role employers can play by voluntarily paying a living wage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Fair Wages Commission\u2019s work is now complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-engagements\">\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Infrastructure Projects Act. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Housing and Infrastructure, Natural Resources. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/infrastructure\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Infrastructure Projects Act                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Housing and Infrastructure<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/infrastructure\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Angling, Hunting, and Trapping. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Sector, Recreation and Tourism, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Angling, Hunting, and Trapping                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Recreation and Tourism<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/12\/52020102588_38f5f124ed_o.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Legal Professions Regulatory Reform. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Law and Public Safety. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Legal Professions Regulatory Reform                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/02\/LegalProfessions2.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: AI Adoption in B.C.. Categories: Economy and Jobs. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/ai-adoption-in-bc\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        AI Adoption in B.C.                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/ai-adoption-in-bc\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/AI-Adoption-banner.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: The Future of WorkBC. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Education and Training, Families and Residents. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/the-future-of-workbc\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        The Future of WorkBC                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Education and Training<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/the-future-of-workbc\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/05\/Employment-Services-Banner-sm-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Labour Relations Code Review 2024. Categories: Economy and Jobs. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/labour-relations-code-review\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Labour Relations Code Review 2024                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/labour-relations-code-review\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2024\/02\/images-for-LRC-engagement-1.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1862,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","engagement_category":[252],"engagement_region":[192],"engagement_status":[207],"engagement_pin_group":[],"class_list":["post-67937","engagement","type-engagement","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","engagement_category-economy-and-jobs","engagement_region-province-wide","engagement_status-closed-with-results"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"pinned_engagement_toggle":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/67937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/engagement"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/67937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67991,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/67937\/revisions\/67991"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"engagement_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_category?post=67937"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_region?post=67937"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_status?post=67937"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_pin_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_pin_group?post=67937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}