Yukon's minimum wage to rise April 1

The minimum wage in the Yukon is increasing as of April 1, 2011. Each April, the minimum wage for the territory is adjusted based on the previous calendar year’s consumer price index for Whitehorse.

The rate will increase to $9.00 from its current rate of $8.93 (and the 2009 rate of $8.89). All employees must be paid the minimum wage, regardless of their age.

If employees are domestics, farm workers, guides or people employed by an outfitter and they are not paid an hourly rate or on piece of work, their minimum wage is eight hours multiplied by the minimum wage rate to calculate the minimum amount for each day or part day worked.

For a piece worker or someone paid on commission, the minimum wage is calculated by multiplying the standard hours worked in a pay period by the minimum wage. For example, for an employee who works 72 hours in a two-week period, the minimum wage 72 hours X minimum wage.