On April 1, 2025, the Government of Ontario announced that the general minimum wage will increase from $17.20 per hour to $17.60 per hour effective October 1, 2025. This change applies to most employees but not all.
Some exceptions include:
- Students under the age of 18 who work 28 hour or less per week while school is in session or those who work during a break or summer holidays will be entitled to a minimum wage of $16.60 per hour effective October 1, 2025.
- Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides will see an increase to $88.05 for working fewer than five consecutive hours in a day or $176.15 if they work five or more hours in a day, regardless of whether the hours are consecutive. This change is effective October 1, 2025.
- The homeworkers minimum wage will increase to $19.35 per hour. This includes students of any age who are employed as homeworkers. This change is effective October 1, 2025.
Increases to the minimum wage reflect the 2.4% increase in the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2024.
If you have questions about the new minimum wage rules and how they impact your business in Ontario, please reach out to speak with an Advisor.