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As always, to make sure your business is prepared and stays in compliance, we recommend that you discuss these upcoming changes to the Manitoba minimum wage with your accountant and lawyer. This article does not constitute legal advice.
What is the minimum wage in Manitoba for 2023?
As of October 1 2023, Manitoba’s general minimum wage is $15.30/hour, which is currently $1.35 less than the federal minimum wage.
All employees in Manitoba must be paid the provincial minimum wage. However, there are exceptions and other considerations. For instance, employees who meet the following criteria are excluded from minimum wage requirements:
- Domestic workers working less than 12 hours per week
- Employees enrolled in federal training programs or approved provincial training programs
- Any temporary employees appointed to their position according to the Elections Act, including election officials and enumerators
But these are not the only minimum wage requirements in Manitoba. For instance, the following types of employees must receive minimum wages (not an exhaustive list):
- Residential construction workers
- Building maintenance employees
- Students
- Incentivized or commissioned employees
- Flat-rate mechanics
- Part-time employees
To learn more or to stay updated on Manitoba employment regulations and standards, you can call (800) 821-4307 or check the Province of Manitoba’s News Releases page.
*Note: Federal minimum wage only applies to employees working in industries regulated by the government, such as banking and transportation. Provinces set all other guidelines, such as the general minimum wage for other industries, and handle all business licence applications.
Is the minimum wage going up in Manitoba?
Manitoba’s minimum wage is set to increase again in October 2023 to $15.30/hour.
How should small business owners prepare for changes?
Minimum wage increases are great news for employees but not necessarily for business owners. If you’re worried about how upcoming changes might affect your business finances:
- Audit your expenses: Check your cash flow in detail to ensure you avoid common business mistakes and create a hiring plan that you can afford. In some cases, you may find that hiring temporary workers as needed is less expensive than taking on full-time regular staff.
- Make sure you hire and keep the right employees: Replacing an employee costs a lot. You decrease the total cost associated with recruiting by retaining valuable employees. Look for candidates who have good track records, come recommended, and fit in with the company culture. Once they’re onboarded, make sure you build a relationship and provide paths for your employees to grow and thrive; it makes it more likely they’ll stay in their roles.
- Increase prices: Increasing prices is a great way to boost your cash flow. According to Square’s 2023 Future of Retail report, given the current economic climate, 88% of consumers say they’d understand if their favourite local business raised its prices.
- Update tech: Consider automating certain aspects of the work and find ways to reduce production costs. Investing in small business team management software can help free up your time, better schedule your employees, and, best of all, is easy to learn.
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