Employer Seminar Series #1 – Costs & Benefits of a Living Wage

You are invited to join us for a free lunch, networking opportunity and to learn more about the costs and benefits of a Living Wage.

This session is being hosted in partnership with the Chamber and is the first of a four-part seminar series for employers, businesses, and organizations in the Ladysmith/Stz’uminus area.

A living wage is the gateway between surviving and thriving. We can all agree that employment should be a pathway out of poverty, yet despite being a wealthy province, BC has the highest rate
of working poverty in Canada. This means that a significant number of people who work do not earn enough income to meet their basic needs. While Living Wage is a modest budget, it still allows
workers to overcome severe financial stress, move beyond working poverty and participate in the social, civic and cultural aspects of life.

In this session, Anastasia French, Provincial Manager for Living Wage for Families BC, will explore what the living wage is, and how it has increased dramatically in recent years because of the
increased cost of essentials like food and rent. Anastasia will share the benefits of paying a Living Wage and discuss what can be done to advocate for more workers to earn a Living Wage through
provincial policy change.  WorkBC will be present to share some info on their Wage Subsidy program for new hires which could help businesses reach the living wage.

This event is free but please RSVP in advance for lunch:

This series is made possible through funding received by the Town of Ladysmith through the Province’s Poverty Reduction Planning and Action program. Other topics to come, will include Cultural Safety, sharing updates on Provincial Employment Standards, and increasing employment opportunities for people with barriers to employment through TogetherBC Poverty Reduction initiatives. For more information on current Community Together To End Poverty Hw-nuts’-ulwum (as one) project initiatives and the Town’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, please visit the Town’s website.
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