The President of the Manitoba Federation of Labor Kevin Rebeck says with Manitoba’s minimum wage going up by 20 cents an hour today new data shows minimum wage earners are not the stereotypical teenagers working for small businesses.  He says it’s typically an adult and typically they work for a large company with over a hundred employees.  He adds all too often we’re told its kids who are living at home with their parents and this is just extra pocket money for them but for many it’s the main income that they’re bringing in for their household.

Rebeck says no one working full time should have to live in poverty.  The Federation defines a living wage as 60 percent of the average wage in Manitoba or twelve forty-four an hour which is a dollar ninety-nine more than the province’s new minimum wage.