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Payment of Wages in Canada

Complaints involving the payment of wages are some of the most common grievances in labour relations. In this section we look at the following:

  • Pay Period: how often wages will be paid.
  • Currency: the currency in which wages can be paid.
  • On termination: Wages to be paid when the emplyment contract gets terminated.
  • Legislation governing the payment of salaries and wages.

How these payment of wages issues are addressed, may vary in federal, individual provincial, and territorial jurisdictions.

Federal Jurisdiction

  • Pay Period: On scheduled pay dates, and within 30 days of date it comes due.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: All outstanding wages must be paid within 30 days of the termination date.
  • Legislation: Canada Labour Code.

British Columbia

  • Pay Period: semi-monthly. Wages to be paid within 8 days after the end of the pay cycle.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: When employment is terminated by the employer, all outstanding wages must be paid within 48 hours of the termination. When employment is terminated by the employee, earned wages are to be paid within six days after the termination.
  • Legislation: Employment Standards Act.

Alberta

  • Pay Period: Not to exceed one month.
  • Payment: Within 10 days of each pay cycle.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: All outstanding wages must be paid within 3 days of the termination date, when terminated with notice, or pay in lieu of notice. In situations where employment is terminated without notice, or without pay, then all wages due must be paid within 10 consecutive days of the last day of employment.
  • Legislation: Employment Standards Code.

Saskatchewan

  • Pay Period: Semi-monthly, or every 14 days.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: Wages due must be paid within 14 days.
  • Legislation: Labour Standards Act.

Manitoba

  • Pay Period: On scheduled pay dates, and within 30 days of date it comes due.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: All outstanding wages must be paid within 30 days of the termination date.
  • Legislation: Employment Standards Code, and The Construction Industry Wages Act.

Ontario

  • Pay Period: Recurring pay period and recurring pay date established by employer.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: Within 7 days, or by the next pay date.
  • Legislation: Employment Standards Act, 2000.

Quebec

  • Pay Period: Every 16 days. For executives and those workers party to a contract, the pay cycle is one month.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: No specifics given for the payment of wages on termination of employment.
  • Legislation: Quebec Labour Standards.

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Pay Period: Semi-monthly.
  • Payment: Wages to be paid no later than 7days from the end of the pay cycle.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: All wages due must be paid within 7 days from the date of termination.
  • Legislation: The Labour Standards Act.

New Brunswick

  • Pay Period: Every 16 days.
  • Payment: Wages must include all wages earned up to 7 days prior to the payment date.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: All wages due must be paid at the next pay cycle, or must be paid no later than 21days from the termination date.
  • Legislation: The Employment Standards Act.

Prince Edward Island

  • Pay Period: Every 16 days.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: Wages due must be paid no later than the last day of the next pay cycle.
  • Legislation: The Employment Standards Act.

Nova Scotia

  • Pay Period: Semi-monthly.
  • Payment: Wages to be paid within 5 days after the end of the pay period.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: All wages due must be paid on expiry of the termination notice.
  • Legislation: The Labour Standards Code.

Payment of Wages in the Territories

Northwest Territories

  • Pay Period: Monthly.
  • Payment: Wages to be paid within 10 days after the scheduled pay date.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: Wages due must be paid within 10 days.
  • Legislation: The Employment Standards Act

Nunavut

  • Pay Period: Monthly.
  • Payment: Wages to be paid within 10 days after the end of the pay period.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: Wages due must be paid within 10 days.
  • Legislation: The Labour Standards Act.

Yukon Territory

  • Pay Period: Every 16 days.
  • Payment: Wages to be paid within 10 days after the end of the pay period.
  • Currency: Canadian Dollars
  • On termination: Wages due must be paid within 7 days.
  • Legislation: The Employment Standards Act.

For more information, or help in dealing with problems related to the payment of wages, contact us today