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Minimum Wage and Unemployment

88.4 Minimum Wage and Unemployment

Whereas:

  • The national unemployment rate as of August 1987 was 8.9%;
  • Welfare recipients may be reluctant to accept employment at minimum wage due to the risk of benefits being interrupted;
  • The cost of living price index shows that goods and services which cost $100 in 1981 had increased to $132 by the end of 1986, making the minimum wage inadequate for basic needs like food, shelter, and other living expenses;

Resolved:

The National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) urges the Government of Canada to work with Provincial and Territorial Governments to:

  1. Increase the minimum wage to at least $6.00 per hour, ensuring it reflects the current cost of living;
  2. Increase the Earnings Exemption in relation to Welfare Benefits, encouraging the unemployed to accept available work and establish a work record for future job opportunities.