Manitoba’s minimum wage will increase to $16 per hour on Oct. 1, a 20-cent bump tied to the province’s inflation rate, the government announced Monday.
The increase, up from the current rate of $15.80, reflects the province’s 2024 inflation rate of 1.1 per cent, rounded to the nearest five cents. The change follows the annual adjustment outlined in Manitoba’s Employment Standards Code, which governs wage and workplace rules.
The new minimum wage is set to take effect automatically, as part of the province’s regular process for reviewing and updating rates in line with cost-of-living increases.
Inflation-linked adjustment
Manitoba Labour and Immigration said the update was based on data compiled in accordance with the legislation, which links annual minimum wage adjustments to the provincial inflation rate.
The 20-cent increase is smaller than recent hikes, including a $1.15 jump last October that pushed the wage to $15.80. That adjustment was part of a multi-phase plan to ease cost-of-living pressures on low-income earners.
The minimum wage applies to most workers in the province, with some exceptions in specific sectors and occupations.
Key info for employers and HR professionals
Employers will need to ensure payroll systems and employment contracts reflect the new rate by the October deadline. The change may also prompt organizations to review internal pay scales, especially for roles close to the minimum wage threshold.
Information on wage rules, exemptions, and employment standards is available through the Manitoba government’s website.
