NORTH BATTLEFORD - The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce believes the province's announcement of an increase to the minimum wage involves a bit of a balancing act - helping employees while factoring in the needs of employers at the same.
The province announced that beginning on Oct. 1, the minimum wage in Saskatchewan would increase to $15.35 per hour, a 35-cent increase from the current rate.
"By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support workers and deliver on our commitment to affordability," said Deputy Premier and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Jim Reiter.
With the wage increase, that will make Saskatchewan's minimum wage the second lowest in the country, with Alberta the lowest at $15 per hour.
Reiter said that over the next few months the province will be working with the Chambers of Commerce and other key stakeholders to "understand the implications of increasing the minimum wage for the business community, and the impact on Saskatchewan's economy.
The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak said it's a balancing act in some respects.
"Given the cost of living these days, it's probably a challenge," she said of those making minimum wage. "But also on the other hand, employers can only raise their prices so much or can only absorb so much more in additional cost as well. So I think there has to be a balance."
On the issue of Saskatchewan's minimum wage being the second lowest in the country with the increase, Machniak said some would argue that the cost of living in Saskatchewan is less than in other places.
"Again, I think it's a balancing act, to try to be sure that the needs of the employees and the needs of the employers are both met," she said. "The government believes they've found that formula to calculate that wage, but we'll have to see in those discussions we have with them."
Machniak also noted that the jump is probably a little higher than it has been seen in previous years.
"Given the cost of living, and everything else that's going on, that doesn't surprise me that in their calculations that that's the rate that would come out of it," she said.