Fair Wages Commission web library

The BC Fair Wages Commission (FWC) was appointed by the British Columbia Minister of Labour, Harry Bains, in October 2017 to advise the government on how to deal with increasing the minimum wage.  Its major tasks are as follows:

• Advise the government on establishing the timelines and increases to a minimum wage of at least $15/hour;
• Advise the government on when and how to raise the minimum wage rates for five groups of workers whose minimum wage is different from the general minimum wage.  These include farm workers paid by piece rates, live-in home support workers, liquor servers, resident caretakers, and live-in camp leaders.
• Advise the government on how increases to the minimum wage should be treated once $15/hour is reached.
• Advise the government on strategies to address the discrepancy between the minimum wage and liveable wages.

The FWC is under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, but its methods of inquiry, findings, and reports are independent of government.  Members of the commission are:

• Chair, Marjorie Griffin Cohen, professor emeritus, Simon Fraser University
• Ken Peacock, vice-president and chief economist, BC Business Council, member representing employer interests
• Ivan Limpright, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518, member representing worker interests.