Current Events > Canadian minimum wage workers say they're surviving rather than living

(+) Yeah! (+)

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-minimum-wage-workers-say-they-re-surviving-rather-than-living-1.3391580

Keriti, a 39-year-old Toronto resident, said she struggles financially despite the fact she is employed.

Keriti doesn't have a steady job, surviving instead on short-term painting and construction jobs.

She says she sometimes arrives at a job site only to be told there isn't any work for her, meaning she and her partner live in constant insecurity.

"At the moment I have nothing permanent in my life because I don't know how much money I will make in the next month and how much I will be paid," she said in a phone interview.
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so get a different job
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This is somehow bitching about UBI right?
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TheGoldenEel posted...

so get a different job

Why? You should be able to drop out in grade 10 and live a nice comfortable life. They deserve it.
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TheGoldenEel posted...

so get a different job

"Oh gee I didn't think of that"

Anyway, as a guy who worked in Canadian min wage for a number of years, it's really friggin hard to work it.

People hear "oh wow the minimum wage is like $11 they're spoiled" cost of living in the bigger cities and the amount of hours given remain pretty bad issues.

I'm one of the lucky ones who got out of that cycle, but yeah.
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I work part time between 20 and 40 hours per week, with each week being very different. I have plenty for food and bills, but I also have a room mate in an $800/month place.
I also buy extras regularly. Hell I spent over $1,000 in the last two months on a Switch and games.
Getting two more games this month, then the Destiny 2 Collector's in September.
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REMercsChamp posted...

Keriti doesn't have a steady job, surviving instead on short-term painting and construction jobs.

That's not minimum wage, that's just barely working.

Minimum wage in Canada is not the same trainwreck as in the US. You can live off it, but don't expect to buy anything nice.
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Frostshock posted...

but don't expect to buy anything nice.

Don't they deserve nice stuff though? And netflix, don't forget the netflix.
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Doom_Art posted...

Anyway, as a guy who worked in Canadian min wage for a number of years, it's really friggin hard to work it.

People hear "oh wow the minimum wage is like $11 they're spoiled" cost of living in the bigger cities and the amount of hours given remain pretty bad issues.

And high taxes, don't forget that
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Mal_Fet posted...

And high taxes, don't forget that

Meh, you get what you pay for
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This isn't the case with everyone but I do see a lot of people who work min or near min wage that complain they can't move up, but they don't invest in certifications or marketable skills (I'm talking like a forklift ticket or first aid certificstion). These are small things that cost a couple hundred dollars that can open up better paying jobs and differentiate you from everyone else who has no marketable skills.
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REMercsChamp posted...

Don't they deserve nice stuff though? And netflix, don't forget the netflix.

What does this even mean? The people this article mentions likely don't have Netflix or nice stuff.

Unless your specifically mentioning the dude with a broken bass guitar in which case, Shut the fuck up.
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NES4EVER posted...

This isn't the case with everyone but I do see a lot of people who work min or near min wage that complain they can't move up, but they don't invest in certifications or marketable skills (I'm talking like a forklift ticket or first aid certificstion). These are small things that cost a couple hundred dollars that can open up better paying jobs and differentiate you from everyone else who has no marketable skills.

Obviously people should make steps for that sort of thing.

The issue is when you have a small monthly budget, or a random/inconsistent schedule it can be somewhat hard to get the time/money for things like that
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