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New minimum wage rates for the construction industry will be in place June 1, Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.

 

“There is considerable competition for qualified construction workers and if we want to keep Manitoba growing, we need a good solid wage base,” said Allan.  “Government is now implementing the Construction Industry Wage Consultation Panel recommendations.”

 

The Construction Industry Wages Consultation Panel is a joint industry-labour group covering rural and urban construction. 

 

Rate increases are staggered with the heavy sector increases effective June 1, Jan. 1, 2009, and Jan. 1, 2010. Industrial commercial and institutional (ICI) sector increases are effective June 1,
June 1, 2009, and Jan. 1, 2010.

 

The new minimum wages in 2008 reflect an average four per cent increase in the heavy construction sector and an average three per cent increase for ICI construction in Winnipeg. Further increases in 2009 and 2010 range from three to six per cent, depending on the trade.

 

The new wage rates also achieve one of the key mandates of the panel, the creation of provincewide wage rates in the ICI sector starting June 1, 2009. This replaces the current system where there are different minimum wage rates depending on the type of project and its location. To achieve a provincewide rate structure, workers on rural construction projects will see their minimum wages increase over 10 per cent in 2008 and an average increase of six per cent in 2009.

 

“The panel has done a good job balancing wage rates to make Manitoba an attractive place to work with the reality of running a construction business,” said Allan.  “With the increase in the general hourly minimum wage increase set for April 1, Manitoba will remain competitive in the labour market and make the province an attractive place to live and do business.”

 

More information can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards. 

 

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