Living Wage Niagara Program
The Living Wage Program is an Ontario-wide program, designed to help businesses attract and retain employees, particularly for low-paying jobs. The goal of the program is to combat working poverty by ensuring that employees can make ends meet where they live. By incorporating expenses that a worker must cover, such as shelter, food, transportation and more, our living wages are much closer to reality than a politically set minimum wage. We understand that the implementation of this program does not look the same for every employer, thus, the Ontario Living Wage Network created a tier-based implementation system, that allows employers to enter the program at a level that meets their current needs.
Phases of Implementation
Supporter
All direct full-time employees are paid a Living Wage. Committed to begin rasing the pay of all direct part-time employees to the Living Wage rate
Leader
All direct full-time and part-time employees are paid a Living Wage. Committed to including Living Wage in service contracts for externally contracted (third
party) employees that provide service on a regular basis are paid a Living Wage.
party) employees that provide service on a regular basis are paid a Living Wage.
Champion
All direct full-time and part-time employees are paid a Living Wage, and all externally (third party) contracted staff that provide service on a regular basis
are paid a Living Wage or will be when the contract renews
are paid a Living Wage or will be when the contract renews
Certification Process
- Express Interest
Visit www.ontariolivingwage.ca/certify and fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page. The Manager of the Ontario Living Wage Network employer program will contact you to discuss the details and answer questions. You will be sent an application and license agreement. - Submit Application & Sign License Agreement
The Manager will review the details of the application and work with you to discuss an implementation plan. - Become Certified
You will be sent the Certified Living Wage Employer certificate and the Living Wage Coordinator will reach out to you to take a photo of the certificate presentation and schedule a media release, if you wish. - Become Recognized
You are recognized publicly as a Living Wage Employer on both the Ontario Living Wage Network and Living Wage Niagara websites and social media pages. Your business or organization will be listed on both employer directories and maps. - Review Periodically
Each year, you will be contacted when the new annual rate will be publicly released in November. On the anniversary of your certification, you will be sent a renewal survey and invoice for the annual employer certification fee. You will have 6 months to implement the rate.
More Information
Please contact Aima Khan at aima@unitedwayniagara.org if you have any questions.
Living Wage Niagara, a partner of the Ontario Living Wage Network, is funded by the Niagara Region, through the Niagara Prosperity Initiative, and facilitated by United Way Niagara
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Please note, all information is accurate as of date posted. Policies may have updated or changed since posting date. Please refer to your own company’s policies and procedures in all cases.