My first job at the MacLeod Trail Chevron paid a minimum wage of $5.90/hour. Where I currently live the minimum wage is $19/hour. I'll try to outline the pros and cons of a high minimum wage:
Pros: All full time workers make a living wage. Students can make enough with evenings and weekends to avoid poverty. Overall society is more equal.
Cons: The money has to come from somewhere and businesses will find savings elsewhere through increased prices, reducing staff and opening hours or giving fewer raises to higher paid employees. This ultimately hurts the middle class.
Looking back that $5.90 seems ridiculously low. I was expected to work for "experience" instead of a fair living wage. The Aussie way seems too high though, especially the penalty rates for weekends. The cost of living here is crazy.
Governments need to find a sweet spot between proving a living wage to all while allowing business and the middle class to thrive. The $15/hour in Alberta might be a good balance.
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