Labour Standards in British Columbia (BC)
The BC Employment Standards Branch has laid out British Columbia's labour standards in a document called the Employment Standards Act. This document covers everything from minimum wage to payroll deductions to statutory holidays to regulations that apply to temporary foreign workers. It also covers special rules that apply to industries like high tech, agriculture and logging.
The Employment Standards Act - Highlights
- Minimum Wage: BC's minimum wage is $8/hour. This wage applies whether you are paid hourly, on a salary or paid by commission.
- Minimum Daily Pay: If you're called into work, your employer must pay you for at least 2 hours of work no matter how long you are actually on the job. And if you're called in for an 8-hour shift that's cut short for some reason, you employer must pay you for at least 4 hours.
- Meal Breaks: Your employer cannot make you work longer than 5 hours without a 30-minute unpaid meal break.
- Paydays and Payroll Records: Employees must be paid every two weeks.
- Overtime: After 8 hours of work in a day, employees receive time-and-a-half. After 12 hours, they receive double-time. On a weekly basis, employees receive time-and-a-half for every hour they work over 40 hours.
- Statutory Holidays: Employees in BC receive nine statutory holidays per year.
- Vacation Pay: You are eligible for 2 weeks of holidays after working for one year. After five years of employment, you get 3 weeks of vacation.
For more information about labour standards in British Columbia, please visit the BC Employment Standard Branch's web site.
|
