Guides Guide

Minimum Wage in BC 2026: Current Rate, Special Rates and Increases

By Alex Francisco Updated Oct 11, 2026 Figures checked Oct 11, 2026 12 min read

What is the minimum wage in BC in 2026?

The minimum wage in BC is $18.25 an hour, in effect since June 1, 2026 for most employees however they are paid. Liquor servers get the same $18.25, live-in camp leaders $145.64 a day, live-in home support workers $135.88 a day, and resident caretakers a monthly minimum. Each June 1 the rates rise with the BC Consumer Price Index.

BC's general minimum wage is $18.25 an hour since June 1, 2026, and it applies to most employees whether they are paid hourly, by salary, on commission or on an incentive basis.
Liquor servers have had no separate rate since June 1, 2021: they are paid the regular $18.25 an hour, and tips come on top.
Live-in camp leaders are paid at least $145.64 for each day or part day worked, and live-in home support workers at least $135.88.
Resident caretakers get $1,092.10 a month plus $43.75 for each suite in a building with 9 to 60 suites, or $3,719.96 a month in a building with 61 or more.
Every June 1, each BC minimum wage rises by the same percentage as the BC All-Items Consumer Price Index, and the rates stay the same if the index falls.
Farm workers who hand harvest 15 listed crops are paid minimum piece rates, such as $0.573 a pound for blueberries; the next piece rate adjustment is December 31, 2026.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Sources

British Columbia sets its minimum wages in the Employment Standards Act and the Employment Standards Regulation, and the Employment Standards Branch publishes the current rates on gov.bc.ca. Every BC rate and rule on this page comes from those official pages, checked on October 11, 2026; the figures for other provinces come from ontario.ca, alberta.ca and Quebec’s CNESST. This page explains the rules; it is not legal advice, and a wage statement compared with the hours actually worked is the only way to check a specific paycheque.

What is the minimum wage in BC right now?

The general minimum wage in BC is $18.25 an hour, in effect since June 1, 2026. The table lists every minimum wage on the gov.bc.ca rate page: the hourly rate, the two daily rates for live-in jobs, the two monthly rates for resident caretakers and the engaged-time rate for app-based work.

BC minimum wage rates from June 1, 2026

How to read this table: rates as listed on the gov.bc.ca minimum wage page on October 11, 2026. All of them took effect on June 1, 2026 and stay in place until the next annual adjustment.

Rate	Minimum	Who it applies to
General minimum wage	$18.25 per hour	Most employees, however they are paid (hourly, salary, commission or incentive pay)
Liquor servers	$18.25 per hour	Servers of food or drink who regularly serve liquor in a licensed establishment; no separate rate since June 1, 2021, and tips are extra
Live-in camp leaders	$145.64 per day	Leaders working for a charity at a summer or seasonal camp on a 24-hour live-in basis with free room and board; paid for each day or part day worked
Live-in home support workers	$135.88 per day	Workers providing government-funded support in a home on a 24-hour live-in basis with free room and board; paid for each day or part day worked
Resident caretakers, building with 9 to 60 suites	$1,092.10 per month plus $43.75 for each suite	Caretakers, custodians, janitors or managers who live and work in an apartment building with more than 8 suites
Resident caretakers, building with 61 or more suites	$3,719.96 per month	Same resident caretaker definition; a flat monthly minimum, pro-rated by days worked for a part month
Online platform workers (delivery and ride-hail)	$21.89 per hour of engaged time	App-based delivery and ride-hail workers, from accepting an order or request until it is completed or cancelled

Two points from gov.bc.ca frame how the general rate works:

The way someone is paid makes no difference. The hourly minimum applies to most employees whether they are paid hourly, by salary, on commission or on an incentive basis.
The employer tops up any shortfall. If an employee’s wage works out below minimum wage for the hours worked, the employer must top up the payment so that it equals minimum wage.

The rate page lists no student, youth or training rate, so the $18.25 general rate is the hourly minimum for a student whose job is covered by BC employment standards. Those standards do not reach everyone, though. Unionized workplaces follow their collective agreement, self-employed workers set their own terms, some professionals and excluded jobs fall outside the rules, and federally regulated workplaces are covered by the Canada Labour Code. The minimum wage in Canada guide covers the federal rate and how each province compares.

How much is minimum wage per week and per year in BC?

At $18.25 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $730 before deductions, which adds up to $37,960 a year or about $3,163.33 a month. The table covers common schedules.

Hours a week	Weekly at $18.25	Monthly at $18.25	Yearly at $18.25 (52 weeks)
20	$365	$1,581.67	$18,980
25	$456.25	$1,977.08	$23,725
30	$547.50	$2,372.50	$28,470
35	$638.75	$2,767.92	$33,215
37.5	$684.38	$2,965.63	$35,587.50
40	$730	$3,163.33	$37,960

These are gross amounts that assume 52 paid weeks at the same hours and no overtime. Income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions and Employment Insurance premiums come off every paycheque. The hourly to salary calculator converts any wage into weekly, monthly and yearly pay, and the BC income tax calculator estimates what is left after tax, CPP and EI.

The June 1, 2026 increase added $0.40 an hour to the general rate, about 2.24%. For a 40-hour week, that is $16 more a week, or $832 more over a full year before deductions.

Low full-time earnings can also qualify for federal support paid on top of wages. The Canada Workers Benefit is a refundable tax credit for people with low employment income, and it depends on filing a tax return every year, even when little or no tax is owed.

How is BC’s minimum wage increase set each June 1?

By a formula written into the law. Section 16.2 of the Employment Standards Act adjusts the minimum wage every year on June 1, beginning on June 1, 2024, and gov.bc.ca sums it up this way: each minimum wage goes up by the same percentage as the BC All-Items Consumer Price Index.

The mechanics, as the Employment Standards Branch explains them:

The index. The law uses the annual average All-items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia, as published by Statistics Canada.
The percentage. The index for the previous calendar year is divided by the index for the year before it, and the previous minimum wage is multiplied by the result.
The rounding. The general minimum wage is rounded to the nearest 5 cents. Every other minimum wage is rounded to the nearest cent.
No cuts. If the index goes down, the minimum wages are not adjusted and stay the same as the previous year.
Publication. The adjusted rates are posted on the Employment Standards Branch website on June 1 of each year.

The next adjustment date is June 1, 2027. The amount is not published yet, because it depends on the 2026 annual average index, and this page will be updated when gov.bc.ca posts it. Piece rates for hand-harvested crops use the same formula on a different date: they adjust every December 31, beginning on December 31, 2025, so the next piece rate change is due on December 31, 2026.

Is there a liquor server minimum wage in BC?

No. Gov.bc.ca states that as of June 1, 2021, liquor servers must be paid the regular minimum wage rate for hours worked, in addition to any tips or gratuities they receive. A liquor server today gets $18.25 an hour, the same as the general rate.

BC defines a liquor server as someone who works mainly as a server of food or drink or both, regularly serves liquor directly to customers, guests, members or patrons, and works in an establishment with a liquor licence. Before June 1, 2021 that group had a lower rate: $12.70 an hour from June 1, 2019 and $13.95 an hour from June 1, 2020, when the general rate was $13.85 and then $14.60.

Tips sit on top of the wage. Employers cannot withhold tips, or force employees to give them up, unless the tips are being pooled or a law requires it, such as a court order to garnish wages. In a tip pool, the employer decides which employees share and how much each gets, but the employer can take a share only when doing similar work to the employees who received the tips.

What do live-in camp leaders and live-in home support workers get paid?

Both groups have a daily minimum instead of an hourly one, paid for each day or part day worked.

Live-in camp leaders: $145.64 a day. A live-in camp leader works for a charity at a summer or seasonal camp on a 24-hour live-in basis without paying for room and board, providing instruction and counselling to campers under 19.
Live-in home support workers: $135.88 a day. A live-in home support worker works in a home on a 24-hour live-in basis without being charged for room and board, providing government-funded support services for anyone with an acute or chronic illness or disability.

A hypothetical camp leader who works a 7-day session is owed at least $1,019.48. A hypothetical live-in home support worker with 5 days on shift is owed at least $679.40. Because the rate covers each day or part day, a part day counts the same as a full one.

How is the resident caretaker minimum wage calculated?

A resident caretaker lives and works in an apartment building with more than 8 suites, as a caretaker, custodian, janitor or manager. The minimum is a monthly wage that depends on the number of suites.

9 to 60 residential suites: $1,092.10 per month plus $43.75 for each suite.
61 or more residential suites: $3,719.96 per month.

For a hypothetical caretaker of a 30-suite building, the monthly minimum is $2,404.60. At the top of the first band, a 60-suite building works out to $3,717.10, just under the flat rate for larger buildings. Where a resident caretaker works less than a full month, wages are pro-rated based on the number of days worked.

BC resident caretaker minimum wage, 2019 to 2026

How to read this table: each row applies from its date until the next row's date. The top row is the current rate.

Effective date	Building with 9 to 60 suites	Building with 61 or more suites
June 1, 2026	$1,092.10 per month plus $43.75 for each suite	$3,719.96 per month
June 1, 2025	$1,069.36 per month plus $42.84 for each suite	$3,642.51 per month
June 1, 2024	$1,041.80 per month plus $41.74 for each suite	$3,548.63 per month
June 1, 2023	$1,002.53 per month plus $40.17 for each suite	$3,414.85 per month
June 1, 2022	$937.82 per month plus $37.58 for each suite	$3,194.43 per month
June 1, 2021	$912.28 per month plus $36.56 for each suite	$3,107.42 per month
June 1, 2020	$876.35 per month plus $35.12 for each suite	$2,985.04 per month
June 1, 2019	$831.45 per month plus $33.32 for each suite	$2,832.11 per month

What are the minimum piece rates for hand-harvested crops in BC?

Farm workers who harvest crops by hand can be paid a piece rate: a rate of pay based on a measurable quantity of work completed. They must get at least the minimum piece rate for the crop, and gov.bc.ca gives the calculation as the piece rate multiplied by the volume or weight picked.

BC minimum piece rates for hand harvesters, effective December 31, 2025

How to read this table: rates from the gov.bc.ca farm workers page, in effect from December 31, 2025 until the next adjustment on December 31, 2026. Vacation pay of 4% is included in every rate except daffodils, where it is paid on top.

Crop	Minimum piece rate	Container or measure	Rate from December 31, 2024
Apples	$24.69 a bin	27.1 cubic feet (0.767 cubic metres)	$24.05 a bin
Apricots	$28.40 a half bin	13.7 cubic feet (0.388 cubic metres)	$27.67 a half bin
Beans	$0.338 a pound ($0.745 a kg)	By weight	$0.329 a pound ($0.726 a kg)
Blueberries	$0.573 a pound ($1.263 a kg)	By weight	$0.558 a pound ($1.230 a kg)
Brussels sprouts	$0.235 a pound ($0.519 a kg)	By weight	$0.230 a pound ($0.506 a kg)
Cherries	$0.325 a pound ($0.716 a kg)	By weight	$0.317 a pound ($0.698 a kg)
Grapes	$26.24 a half bin	13.7 cubic feet (0.388 cubic metres)	$25.56 a half bin
Mushrooms	$0.340 a pound ($0.750 a kg)	By weight	$0.332 a pound ($0.731 a kg)
Peaches	$26.24 a half bin	12.6 cubic feet (0.357 cubic metres)	$25.56 a half bin
Pears	$27.80 a bin	27.1 cubic feet (0.767 cubic metres)	$27.08 a bin
Peas	$0.422 a pound ($0.931 a kg)	By weight	$0.411 a pound ($0.907 a kg)
Prune plums	$27.80 a half bin	13.7 cubic feet (0.388 cubic metres)	$27.08 a half bin
Raspberries	$0.515 a pound ($1.136 a kg)	By weight	$0.502 a pound ($1.107 a kg)
Strawberries	$0.497 a pound ($1.095 a kg)	By weight	$0.484 a pound ($1.067 a kg)
Daffodils	$0.198 a bunch	Bunch of 10 stems; vacation pay is paid on top	$0.193 a bunch

Source: Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (hand harvesters and minimum piece rates); Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (piece rates effective December 31, 2025); Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (piece rates effective December 31, 2024); Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (vacation pay built into piece rates); Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (posted notices and picking cards); Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (paid at least twice a month); Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (no overtime or statutory holiday pay); Employment Standards Regulation, section 18, Minimum wage – farm workers — gov.bc.ca (piece rates adjusted every December 31); Employment Standards Regulation, section 18 — gov.bc.ca (daffodil pickers get vacation pay on top); Employment Standards Regulation, section 18 — gov.bc.ca (other farm workers get the hourly minimum). In effect from December 31, 2025 to December 30, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.

A hypothetical picker who brings in 400 pounds of blueberries in a day is owed at least $229.20. For tree fruit, 12 bins of apples comes to at least $296.28.

Several rules come with piece work:

Rates are known up front. Employees must be told what the piece rates are before they start work.
Notices and picking cards. Employers must post notices on site that state the piece rate for each crop, the size of the picking containers and how much is needed to fill one, and must give workers a picking card to record the total volume or weight they pick.
Vacation pay. The 4% is built into the piece rates, except for daffodils, where pickers get vacation pay in addition to the piece rate.
Paydays. All farm workers must be paid at least twice a month.
Overtime. Farm workers do not receive overtime or statutory holiday pay.
Other farm work. Farm workers who are not on piece work and do not hand harvest the listed crops are entitled to the hourly minimum wage.

What is the minimum wage for gig workers in BC?

Online platform workers, also called gig workers, pick up and deliver online orders or carry ride-hail passengers through an app. They must receive at least $21.89 an hour for engaged time, a rate in effect since June 1, 2026. Engaged time starts when the worker accepts an order or request and ends when it is completed or cancelled, so time spent waiting between jobs is not counted.

That rate is $3.64 an hour above the general minimum. A distance allowance is paid in addition to wages to offset transport costs during engaged time: at least $0.35 per kilometre for delivery by any form of transport other than walking, and at least $0.45 per kilometre for ride-hail work in a motor vehicle.

For a hypothetical delivery worker with 20 engaged hours and 150 kilometres driven on orders in a week, the minimum is $437.80 in wages plus $52.50 in distance allowance.

BC online platform worker minimum wage for engaged time

How to read this table: gov.bc.ca lists three rates for app-based delivery and ride-hail work. The top row is the current one.

Effective date	Minimum for engaged time
June 1, 2026	$21.89 per hour
June 1, 2025	$21.43 per hour
June 1, 2024	$20.88 per hour

How do overtime, short shifts and vacation pay add to minimum wage in BC?

Minimum wage is the floor for regular hours, and several BC rules build on it:

Daily overtime. Time-and-a-half applies to any time worked over 8 hours in a day, up to 12 hours, even when the week stays under 40 hours. Double time applies to any time worked over 12 hours in a day. At $18.25, those rates are $27.38 and $36.50 an hour.
Weekly overtime. Time-and-a-half applies to time worked over 40 hours in a week that runs from Sunday to Saturday. Only the first 8 hours worked in a day count toward the weekly total.
Minimum daily pay. An employee who reports for work must be paid for at least 2 hours, or at least 4 hours when scheduled for more than 8. At minimum wage, that is $36.50 or $73. Only time actually worked is owed when the employee is unfit to work, does not meet WorkSafeBC health and safety regulations, or asks to leave early.
Vacation pay. At least 4% of all wages paid in the previous year, rising to 6% after 5 years of employment. On a full-time year at $18.25, 4% is $1,518.40.
Deductions. An employer may deduct from wages only when legally required or when the employee approves the deduction in writing. Business expenses such as cash shortages, stolen or damaged property, poor quality work or an unpaid customer bill cannot be charged to an employee, even with agreement, and the fine for doing so runs from $500 to $10,000.

Overtime is owed however an employee is paid, and an employee cannot agree to give it up. Managers, commission salespeople and some industries, including agriculture and high technology, have special rules.

The daily trigger matters at minimum wage. A hypothetical employee on four 10-hour shifts works 40 hours, which is not over the weekly limit, but has 2 overtime hours each day. That week pays at least $803, not $730. A single 13-hour day pays at least $292.

How has BC’s minimum wage changed since 2019?

The general rate has gone up every June 1 since 2019, from $13.85 to $18.25 an hour. The table shows every hourly and daily rate that gov.bc.ca publishes for those years.

BC minimum wage history, 2019 to 2026

How to read this table: for live-in home support workers, gov.bc.ca gives a single amount for the period before June 1, 2023, which is shown in the rows for 2019 to 2022. Rates before June 1, 2019 are not on the official page.

Effective date	General (per hour)	Liquor servers (per hour)	Live-in camp leaders (per day)	Live-in home support workers (per day)
June 1, 2026	$18.25	$18.25	$145.64	$135.88
June 1, 2025	$17.85	$17.85	$142.61	$133.05
June 1, 2024	$17.40	$17.40	$138.93	$129.62
June 1, 2023	$16.75	$16.75	$133.69	$124.73
June 1, 2022	$15.65	$15.65	$125.06	$116.68
June 1, 2021	$15.20	$15.20	$121.65	$116.68
June 1, 2020	$14.60	$13.95	$116.86	$116.68
June 1, 2019	$13.85	$12.70	$110.87	$116.68

Across those seven increases, the general rate rose by $4.40 an hour, about 31.77%. Liquor servers gained more, because their separate rate ended in 2021: from $12.70 to $18.25 is about 43.7%. The increases since June 1, 2024 have followed the Consumer Price Index formula.

How does BC’s minimum wage compare with other provinces?

BC’s general rate is above the three other large provinces.

Province	General minimum wage	In effect since	BC difference per hour	40-hour week
British Columbia	$18.25	June 1, 2026	—	$730
Ontario	$17.95	October 1, 2026	$0.30	$718
Quebec	$16.60	May 1, 2026	$1.65	$664
Alberta	$15	October 1, 2018	$3.25	$600

The structure differs as well. Alberta and Ontario both have lower student rates and Quebec has a lower rate for tipped employees, while the BC rate page lists neither. The Ontario minimum wage guide, the Alberta minimum wage guide and the Quebec minimum wage guide cover each province’s special rates, and the average salary in Canada guide shows where minimum wage earnings sit against typical pay. Wages are only one side of the comparison: the British Columbia money guide covers provincial benefits, housing costs and credits.

What can a worker do if paid less than minimum wage in BC?

The official route is a complaint to the Employment Standards Branch. Step by step:

Check the numbers. Compare the hours worked with the gross pay on the wage statement, including any overtime and minimum daily pay.
Try to resolve it informally. Gov.bc.ca lists this first, before a complaint.
Ask Employment Standards. Call 1-833-236-3700, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm Pacific Time, or text a quick question to 604-660-2421. The Branch can explain the standards but does not give legal advice.
File the complaint online. There is no fee, the form takes about 15 minutes, and a complaint can be filed for oneself or on behalf of another person or a group of employees.
Watch the time limit. Someone still working for the same employer can have issues reviewed up to 1 year before the date the complaint is received. Someone who has left must file within 6 months of the last day of work or the last day of a temporary layoff.
Expect a wait. Gov.bc.ca says the process can take several months. Many complaints end in voluntary resolution; otherwise the Director of Employment Standards issues a written determination with mandatory administrative penalties and then collects outstanding wages.

Employers are not allowed to intimidate or discriminate against someone for making a complaint, which includes refusing to hire or threatening to fire. A worker who wants their identity withheld from the employer can ask in writing for a confidential complaint. Unionized employees use their grievance procedure instead, and work in a federally regulated workplace falls under the Canada Labour Code. Anyone starting a first job in Canada also needs a Social Insurance Number; the SIN application guide walks through the steps.

What are the common mistakes with BC minimum wage?

Assuming servers have a lower rate. The liquor server rate ended on June 1, 2021. Servers get the regular minimum wage, and tips are extra.
Treating commission or salary as an exemption. The hourly minimum applies however someone is paid, and the employer must top up any shortfall.
Using last year’s rate after June 1. Every minimum wage adjusts on June 1, so a paycheque covering late May and early June can include two rates.
Forgetting daily overtime. BC counts overtime after 8 hours in a day, not only after 40 hours in a week.
Paying only for time worked on a cancelled shift. Reporting for work triggers minimum daily pay of 2 hours, or 4 hours for a shift scheduled for more than 8.
Charging business costs to staff. Cash shortages, breakage and unpaid customer bills cannot come out of wages, even with written agreement.
Waiting too long after leaving a job. The complaint window closes 6 months after the last day of work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum wage in BC right now?

The general minimum wage in British Columbia is $18.25 an hour, in effect since June 1, 2026. It applies to most employees regardless of how they are paid. Liquor servers get the same hourly rate. Live-in camp leaders and live-in home support workers have daily minimums, resident caretakers have monthly minimums, and app-based delivery and ride-hail workers have their own hourly rate for engaged time. These are the rates listed on gov.bc.ca on October 11, 2026.

When did BC's minimum wage last go up?

The current rates took effect on June 1, 2026, when the general rate moved from $17.85 to $18.25 an hour. The daily, monthly and online platform worker rates went up on the same day. Piece rates for hand-harvested crops follow a different calendar: the current ones took effect on December 31, 2025.

When is the next minimum wage increase in BC?

The next adjustment date set by the Employment Standards Act is June 1, 2027. The new amount is not published yet. It depends on the annual average BC All-Items Consumer Price Index for 2026 compared with 2025, and the adjusted rates are posted on the Employment Standards Branch website on June 1. If the index goes down, the rates stay where they are.

How is BC's minimum wage increase calculated?

Section 16.2 of the Employment Standards Act multiplies the previous minimum wage by the change in the annual average All-items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia, as published by Statistics Canada. The index for the previous calendar year is divided by the index for the year before it. The general rate is then rounded to the nearest 5 cents and every other minimum wage to the nearest cent.

Is there a liquor server minimum wage in BC?

No. Since June 1, 2021, liquor servers in BC must be paid the regular minimum wage for the hours they work, in addition to any tips or gratuities. That means $18.25 an hour today. Before that, a lower liquor server rate applied: $12.70 an hour from June 1, 2019 and $13.95 an hour from June 1, 2020.

Do tips count toward minimum wage in BC?

No. Gov.bc.ca says liquor servers must be paid the regular minimum wage in addition to any tips or gratuities they receive. Employers cannot withhold tips or force employees to give them up unless the tips are being pooled or a law requires it, such as a court order to garnish wages. An employer can share in a tip pool only when doing similar work to the employees who received the tips.

Is there a student or youth minimum wage in BC?

The gov.bc.ca minimum wage page lists no student, youth or training rate. Its categories are the general rate, liquor servers (same as general), live-in camp leaders, live-in home support workers, resident caretakers and online platform workers, plus piece rates for farm workers who harvest by hand. That leaves the $18.25 general rate as the hourly minimum for a student whose job is covered by BC employment standards.

How much is minimum wage per year in BC?

A 40-hour week for 52 weeks is 2,080 paid hours. Multiply 2,080 by $18.25 for the yearly amount before deductions; the table on this page works it out for 20 to 40 hours a week, with weekly and monthly figures. Income tax, Canada Pension Plan contributions and Employment Insurance premiums come off each paycheque, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figure.

What is the minimum wage for resident caretakers in BC?

Resident caretakers have a monthly minimum based on building size. In a building with 9 to 60 residential suites, the minimum is $1,092.10 per month plus $43.75 for each suite. In a building with 61 or more suites, it is a flat $3,719.96 per month. When a caretaker works less than a full month, the wage is pro-rated by the number of days worked.

What are the piece rates for farm workers in BC?

Farm workers who harvest listed crops by hand must get at least the minimum piece rate for that crop. The rates effective December 31, 2025 include $0.573 a pound for blueberries, $0.515 a pound for raspberries, $0.497 a pound for strawberries, $0.325 a pound for cherries and $24.69 a bin for apples. Vacation pay of 4% is already included in every piece rate except daffodils, and the rates are next adjusted on December 31, 2026.

What is the minimum wage for gig workers in BC?

Online platform workers who do app-based delivery or ride-hail work must receive at least $21.89 an hour for engaged time since June 1, 2026. Engaged time runs from accepting an order or request until it is completed or cancelled. A distance allowance is paid on top: at least $0.35 per kilometre for delivery by any transport other than walking and at least $0.45 per kilometre for ride-hail driving.

What can a worker do if they are paid less than minimum wage in BC?

Gov.bc.ca suggests trying to resolve the dispute informally first. If that fails, a complaint can be filed online with the Employment Standards Branch at no fee. A worker who has left the job must file within 6 months of the last day of work. The Branch can be reached at 1-833-236-3700, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm Pacific Time.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 29, 2026
Next scheduled check: December 30, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
British Columbia minimum wage rates (general, liquor server, live-in camp leader, live-in home support worker, resident caretaker, online platform worker), history since 2019 and related Employment Standards pay rules	June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027	October 11, 2026
British Columbia minimum piece rates for farm workers who hand harvest listed crops (effective December 31, 2025) and related farm worker pay rules	December 31, 2025 to December 30, 2026	October 11, 2026
Ontario minimum wage rates (general, student, homeworker, hunting/fishing/wilderness guide) and related ESA pay rules	October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027	September 29, 2026
Alberta minimum wage rates (general, student, salesperson, domestic employee), history since 2015 and related Employment Standards pay rules	October 1, 2018	September 30, 2026
Québec minimum wage rates (general, tipped employees, strawberry and raspberry pickers) and related labour standards pay rules	May 1, 2026	October 8, 2026

Official sources

Minimum wage — gov.bc.ca (current general rate and effective date) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Employment Standards Act, section 16.2, Annual adjustment of minimum wage — gov.bc.ca (adjustment every June 1) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Minimum daily pay — gov.bc.ca (2-hour and 4-hour minimums) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Tips and gratuities — gov.bc.ca (employers cannot withhold tips) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Overtime — gov.bc.ca (daily overtime) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Vacation — gov.bc.ca (vacation pay percentages) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Deductions — gov.bc.ca (when wages can be deducted) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
File an employment standards complaint — gov.bc.ca (no fee) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Contact the Employment Standards Branch — gov.bc.ca (phone line and hours) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Do employment standards apply to you — gov.bc.ca (unionized, self-employed and federal workplaces) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Hiring farm workers — gov.bc.ca (hand harvesters and minimum piece rates) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Employment Standards Regulation, section 18, Minimum wage – farm workers — gov.bc.ca (piece rates adjusted every December 31) — Government of British Columbia (Employment Standards Branch)
Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, Minimum wage — ontario.ca (rate periods) — Government of Ontario (Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development)
Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, Filing a claim — ontario.ca (two-year time limit) — Government of Ontario (Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development)
Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, Young workers' rights — ontario.ca (students not entitled to minimum wage) — Government of Ontario (Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development)
Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, Tips or other gratuities — ontario.ca (tips are not wages) — Government of Ontario (Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development)
Federal labour standards — canada.ca (Part III of the Canada Labour Code covers federally regulated businesses) — Government of Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada, Labour Program)
List of federally regulated industries and workplaces — canada.ca (banks) — Government of Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada)
Employment standards rules – Minimum wage — alberta.ca (rate table) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Minimum wage expert panel — alberta.ca (minimum wage changes from 2015 to 2018) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Overtime hours and overtime pay — alberta.ca (8/44 rule) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
File an employment standards complaint — alberta.ca (name shared with employer) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Youth employment laws — alberta.ca (true employee test) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Vacations and vacation pay — alberta.ca (vacation pay percentages) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Hours of work and rest — alberta.ca (3-hour minimum) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Payment of earnings — alberta.ca (pay within 10 days of the end of the pay period) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Deductions from earnings — alberta.ca (no deductions for uniforms) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Contact Employment Standards — alberta.ca (phone numbers) — Government of Alberta (Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration)
Job creation student wage fact sheets — open.alberta.ca — Government of Alberta (Open Government Program, Labour and Immigration)
Wages — CNESST (general rate and effective date) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Minimum wage in Québec — CNESST (general rate) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Wages, employees receiving tips — CNESST (rate) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Tips and tip-sharing arrangement — CNESST (tips belong to the worker) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Strawberry and raspberry picking — CNESST (piece rates) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Piece work wage — CNESST (always at least the minimum wage) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Commission-based wages — CNESST (commission-only worked example) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Overtime — CNESST (40-hour standard work week) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Farm workers — CNESST (single rate after 40 hours) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Time worked, breaks and 3-hour indemnity — CNESST (3-hour indemnity) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Meal and accommodation costs — CNESST (maximum deductions) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Special clothing and equipment required at work — CNESST (free for minimum wage staff) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Deductions — CNESST (operating costs cannot be deducted) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Pay slip — CNESST (statement of earnings at each pay) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Students who work at a summer camp — CNESST (excluded from the minimum wage standard) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Domestic workers — CNESST (entitled to the minimum wage) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Workers who are not covered — CNESST (self-employed workers) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Wage complaint — CNESST (1 year to file) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
How to file a complaint — CNESST (meet the employer first) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Contact us — CNESST (phone number) — Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)
Regulation respecting labour standards, chapter N-1.1, r. 3 — LégisQuébec (section 3, general rate) — Gouvernement du Québec (LégisQuébec, Les Publications du Québec)

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