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Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum Wage

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The minimum wage in Canada varies by province. It ranges from $14.00 to $19.00, with each province setting their minimum wage.ย 

As of April 1, 2024, the minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador is $15.60, with another scheduled increase for next April.ย ย 

This guide covers everything you need to know about the minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador, including its history, exceptions and rules, tax rates, and scheduled increases. 

Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum Wage History

The current minimum wage in Newfoundland and Labrador is $15.60 per hour. Below is a brief history of the minimum wage over time:

  • April 1, 2024: $15.60
  • October 1, 2023: $15.00
  • April 1, 2023: $14.50
  • October 1, 2022: $13.70
  • April 1, 2022: $13.20
  • October 1, 2021: $12.75
  • April 1, 2021: $12.50
  • October 1, 2020: $12.15
  • April 1, 2020: $11.65
  • April 1, 2019: $11.40
  • April 1, 2018: $11.15
  • October 1, 2017: $11.00
  • April 1, 2017: $10.75

Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum Wage Exceptions and Rules

Newfoundland and Labrador has official labour standards that dictate the rules employers should follow to pay their employees. Some employment standards include:

Work Hours

A work week is 7 consecutive days as delegated by the employer. Employees must have 24 consecutive hours off each week. If possible, the day off should be Sunday. 

Breaks

After 5 consecutive hours of work, an employee is entitled to a one-hour unpaid break (unless the employer has control or right of direction during this time). 

On-Call

If an employee is called into work and isnโ€™t required to work for at least 3 hours, the employer must let the employee work for the 3 hours or pay the employee for the 3 hours at the minimum wage rate or minimum overtime rate, whichever is greater. 

If an employee is previously scheduled to work for less than 3 hours, this does not apply. 

Overtime Pay

Overtime must be paid on any hours worked over 40 hours per week. Employers must pay employees a rate of 1.5 times their salary. 

The current minimum overtime pay is $23.40/hour, as the minimum wage is $15.60/hour.ย 

Instead of overtime pay, employees can bank their overtime hours and choose to receive 1.5 hours of paid time off for each hour of overtime worked. 

To do so, this time off must be taken within 3 months of when the overtime was worked, and the time off or payment must be finalized within 12 months of the overtime period. 

Vacation Pay

To qualify for an annual paid vacation, the employee must have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months and shown up for at least 90% of the available hours. 

The minimum vacation time is 2 weeks, which employees can take in either one 2-week period or two 1-week periods. Within 10 months of qualifying for vacation, the employee must be permitted to take it. 

Employees who have worked for an employer for 5 days or more are entitled to vacation pay. They must receive this payment at least one day before starting their vacation or within one week of the termination of their employment. 

Vacation pay must be paid out at every pay period. Employees who have worked for less than 15 years with the same employer receive 4% of gross wages for their vacation pay, while those who have worked for the same employer for more than 15 years receive 6%. 

Employees get a minimum of six paid public holidays per year, as defined in the Labour Standards Act

If an employee is required to work during a public holiday, the employer must either:

  • Pay the employee twice the wages for a normal working day
  • Add one day to the employeeโ€™s vacation 
  • Give the employee one full paid day off within 30 days of the holiday

If the employee works on a holiday for fewer hours than normal, the employer must pay their normal wages plus an additional dayโ€™s wages. 

Minimum Wage Tax Rate in Newfoundland and Labrador 

NL Personal Income Tax Brackets and Tax Rates

In 2024, the Newfoundland and Labrador personal tax credit amounts and tax brackets were increased by 4.2%.

Here are the NL personal income tax brackets and rates for 2024:

NL Tax Bracket 2024Tax Rate 2024NL Tax Bracket 2023Tax Rate 2023
Up to $43,198Up to $41,4578.70%
$43,199 to $86,395$41,458 to $82,91314.50%
$86,396 to $154,244$82,914 to $148,02715.80%
$154,245 to $215,943$148,028 to $207,23917.80%
$215,944 to $275,870$207,240 to $264,75019.80%
$275,871 to $551,739$264,751 to $529,50020.80%
$551,740 to $1,103,478$529,501 to $1,059,00021.30%
$1,103,479 and over1,059,000 and over21.80%

Federal Tax Brackets and Tax Rates

The Federal tax brackets and personal tax credit amounts increased 4.7% in 2024. On top of the NL personal tax amounts, you also pay federal tax based on your earnings. 

Federal Tax Bracket 2024Tax Rate 2024Tax Bracket 2023Tax Rate 2023
Up to $55,86715%Up to $53,35915%
$55,868 to $111,73320.50%$53,360 to $106,71720.50%
$111,734 to $173,20526%$106,718 to $165,43026%
$173,206 to $246,75229%$165,431 to $235,67529%
$246,753 and over33%$235,676 and over33%

Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum Wage Deductions

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the following can be deducted from an employeeโ€™s wages:

  • CPP contributions
  • EI contributions 
  • Income tax
  • Overpayment of wages
  • Savings plan deductions
  • Deductions from a group benefits plan 
  • Court-ordered sums deducted or withheld 

Employers cannot ask employees to pay for their uniform when it is unique to the business operation and has the business logo. 

An employer also cannot deduct cash shortages, charge cards, or bad cheques from employeesโ€™ wages. 

Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum Wage Increases

On April 1, 2024, the minimum wage increased to $15.60 per hour.ย 

In April 2025, it will increase again based on the inflation rate plus an extra 1%.ย 

Minimum Wage in Canada

The minimum wage by province in Canada is as follows:

ProvinceMinimum Wage Rate
Alberta$15.00 general workers; $13.00 for students under 18 (less than 28 hrs/week when school is in session)
British Columbia$17.40 general workers
Saskatchewan$14.00
Manitoba$15.30
Ontario$16.55 general workers
Quรฉbec$15.75
New Brunswick$15.30
Nova Scotia$15.20
Prince Edward Island$15.40
Newfoundland & Labrador$14.50
Yukon$17.59
Northwest Territories$16.70
Nunavut$19.00

Newfoundland and Labrador Minimum Wage FAQs

Is the minimum wage going up to $15 in NL?ย 

Yes, the minimum wage in NL increased to $15.60 on April 1, 2024.

Which province has the highest minimum wage in Canada?ย 

Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in Canada at $19.00 per hour.ย 

What is the cost of living in Newfoundland?

For one person living in NL, the average monthly cost of living is $1,564, including rent. This is 1.13 times less expensive than the average in Canada.ย 

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Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)

Enoch Omololu, personal finance expert, author, and founder of Savvy New Canadians, has written about money matters for over 10 years. Enoch has an MSc (Econ) degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. His expertise has been highlighted in major publications like Forbes, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, CBC News, Toronto Star, Financial Post, CTV News, TD Direct Investing, Canadian Securities Exchange, and many others. Enoch is passionate about helping others win with their finances and recently created a practical investing course for beginners. You can read his full author bio.

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