Sask.'s minimum wage rises 24 cents to $10.96

Starting Sunday, minimum-wage earners in Saskatchewan will make 24 cent more per hour.

Minimumwage increases to$10.96 on Oct.1, according to the formula the province uses to adjust for inflation.

• Saskatchewan's minimum wage to rise to $10.96 more per hour in October

The province says that Saskatchewan is home to some 49,000 minimum-wage earners, with the majority being women, followed by youth ages 15-19.

According to the province, most who earn minimum wage work in the retail or food-services sector.

As of Oct. 1, Saskatchewan's minimum wagewill be the second-lowest in the country, after Nova Scotia.

$15/hour minimum wage would be a 'job killer': CFIB

Just days before minimum wage was set to rise, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business sent out a warning to those trying to steer the provincefrom its current formula to a $15 per hour rate.

"While hiking the minimum wage may sound like a good idea, the evidence shows that it's a job killer,"Marilyn Braun-Pollon, the federation's vice-president for the Prairies andagribusiness, said in a news release circulated to media.

"A $15 minimum wage would particularlyaffectemployment opportunities for Saskatchewan's youtha segment of the population who already suffer from high unemployment."

The governments of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario all have plans in place to move to a $15 minimum wage.