A new study found that the provincial minimum wage is not enough for a family of four to comfortably live in Kelowna.

The Living Wage for Families campaign found that working people in Kelowna would need to earn at least $18.49 an hour in order to meet the most basic costs of raising two children. That is higher than the provincial minimum wage, which is currently at $15.20.

91裸聊视频淔amilies that grew up in poverty often have children that grow up in poverty, and these children end up living in poverty as adults themselves,91裸聊视频� said campaign spokesperson Anastasia French. 91裸聊视频淥ne way to address working poverty is to ensure that families earn a living wage.91裸聊视频�

The rate is calculated based on the cost of essentials like food, transportation, childcare and rent once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies have been taken into account.

Rent and childcare are the highest expenses for families in the city, according to French. An October 2021 rent report by Zumper found the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,610 a month while the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $2,180 a month. Childcare can cost more than $1,000 a month depending on the daycare centre. The combination of those two costs alone is more than what a person working full-time at a minimum wage job makes before deductions, roughly $2,432 a month.

French said the gap between the minimum and living wages means a working parent often has to make sacrifices in order to make ends meet. This disproportionately affects marginalized communities: research by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives suggests that racialized workers, women and single parents often work in minimum wage jobs in industries considered essential during the pandemic.

91裸聊视频淎 working parent often has to work an extra couple of hours a week and even get multiple jobs, in order to make ends meet. That91裸聊视频檚 time they91裸聊视频檙e not spending with their families. That91裸聊视频檚 time they91裸聊视频檙e not spending in their communities. That has a significant impact,91裸聊视频� she said.

But there is hope for the future. More and more employers in the province have committed to paying their employees a living wage, according to French. The John Howard Society of Central and South Okanagan is listed as a living wage employer on the Living Wage for Families BC website.

91裸聊视频淓veryone benefits when they can earn a living wage, and we encourage employers to pay all their staff a living wage, not just those with children. We don91裸聊视频檛 know the individual circumstances that someone is living in,91裸聊视频� said French.

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paula.tran@kelownacapnews.com
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