The hourly pay for general minimum wage workers has risen from $8 an hour. At the same time, minimum pay for students under the age of 18 working 28 hours a week or less has been increased to $8.20 from $7.50.

The provincial government is continuing to hike minimum wage levels annually over the next two years. General workers are expected to be earning $10.25 an hour by 2010, while students under 18 and working not more than 28 hours a week will be receiving $9.60.