Business owners and employees are reminded the minimum wage in Ontario will increase again this year, rising from the current rate of $11.40 to $11.60 per hour, effective Oct. 1.
 
The student minimum wage will also increase from $10.70 to $10.90 per hour. A student is defined as someone under the age of 18 who works 28 hours a week or less when school is in session, or during a school break or summer holidays.
 
Any changes to the minimum wage are announced by Apr. 1 each year and then take effect on Oct. 1, giving businesses and workers time to plan for any increases.
 
If the change to the minimum wage rate comes into effect partway through an employee’s pay period, the pay period will be treated as if it were two separate pay periods and the employee is entitled to at least the minimum wage that applies in each of those periods.
 
For an employee who’s pay is based completely or partly on commission, it must amount to at least the minimum wage for each hour the employee works.
 
When an employee who regularly works more than three hours a day is required to report to work but works less than three hours, he or she must be paid whichever is highest: three hours at minimum wage or their regular wage for the time worked.
 
For more information on employment standards in Ontario, visit labour.gov.on.ca.