Community Development Halton releases the calculation of a living wage for Halton Region.
A living wage is not a minimum wage which is set by government without consideration of the ability of working people to have a quality of life. A living wage is envisioned as a wage that allows working people not just to survive but to enjoy a decent quality of life where individuals and their families are included in the social, cultural, and economic life of their communities. Low wages negatively impact the individual worker and their family by withholding the tools that enable people to rise out of poverty. The community experiences multiple effects of low wages, including inequality, high rates of child poverty, poor health, high rates of crime and a weak local economy.
Employers paying a living wage have seen reduced employee absenteeism, decreased turnover rates, lower recruitment, and training cost due to employee retention, increased morale, productivity, and loyalty among staff as well as being recognized in their community as a responsible employer.
Across Canada and the United States, municipalities, universities, school boards, nonprofit agencies and businesses are becoming living wage employers. Dr. Joey Edwardh, Executive Director of Community Development Halton, commented that “paying a living wage is about fairness and the active support of an inclusive healthy community for all.”
A living wage of $17.95/hour has been calculated for a Halton family of four (2 parents, one boy aged 10 and one girl aged 14). A report titled Calculating a Living Wage for Halton – 2016 Update is available on the CDH website (www.cdhalton.ca).
For more information, contact:
Dr. Joey Edwardh, Executive Director
(905) 632-1975