The provincial NDP if elected plans on increasing the mandatory minimum hourly wage a dollar every four years to 15-dollars an hour, which is something the governments of both Ontario and Alberta are in the process of doing.
Party leader Jennifer McKenzie spoke with us about their plans when it comes to labour reform for workplaces in New Brunswick.
“Looking at changes to labour law to change working conditions and improve working conditions for everyday workers,” says McKenzie, “such as precarious work, addressing shift work and making sure that workers have a safe and secure working environment when they go to work every day.”
The NDP says it is pledging to, among other things, increase the coverage of employment standard legislation to those who are now not a part of it and to introduce common employer provisions to make franchisors responsible for the working conditions of employees and franchisees.
McKenzie was asked whether the minimum wage change would mean employers would have to raise product costs.
“That’s not really borne out,” says McKenzie.
“If you give an extra dollar to a low wage worker they will spend it on basics and things they need for their families and their children and it doesn’t add to inflation. A lot of economic studies have been done and they have in fact shown that. It’s a very productive dollar that is given to a low-wage worker.”
