Programs and Incentives
Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program
Applications for the Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program are now closed.
Please note: Once your application has been submitted it may take several days to receive a confirmation that it has been received. All applications received by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2023 will be reviewed prior to April 30, 2023.
Program Overview
The Small Business Minimum Wage Adjustment Program provides support to small businesses (up to 100 employees) to help offset the impact of the minimum wage increase on October 1, 2022 from $11.95 per hour to $13.50 per hour for up to 20 employees.
Manitoba small businesses who employ up to 100 employees that work and live in Manitoba are now eligible to apply for a $0.50 cent an hour wage subsidy for up to 20 employees for a period of six months, retroactive from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
As of March 1, 2023, the previous bi-weekly online application and submission process has been replaced by an online application for a one-time lump sum payment.
Eligible small businesses can now apply online once to receive a one-time lump sum payment.
Following validation of application and supporting documents (four weeks of pay advice), eligible employers will receive a one-time lump sum payment, by direct deposit, calculated as follows:
$0.50 per hour x 80 hours x 13 bi-weekly pay periods x up to 20 employees = one-time lump sum payment
Examples:
$0.50 per hour x 80 hours x 13 bi-weekly pay periods x one employee = $520.
$0.50 per hour x 80 hours x 13 bi-weekly pay periods x 20 employees = $10,400.
Based on the simplified process, eligible small businesses will receive a subsidy of $520 per employee, up to a maximum of $10,400.
Who is Eligible
The program is open to all private sector, non-profit and charitable employers who are operating in the province of Manitoba and meet all of the following criteria:
- Small businesses that employ minimum wage seasonal (summer) employees are now eligible to apply.
- Employers must possess an active and valid Business Number, business bank account, and email address.
- Employers must be registered, and in good standing with the Companies Office (not required for sole proprietors).
- Have up to 100 employees that work and are located in Manitoba.
- Prior to September 30, 2022, an employee was paid between $11.95 and $13.49 per hour.
- As of October 1, 2022, the same employee is being paid at least $13.50 per hour.
Who is Not Eligible
- Federal, provincial and local government employers.
How Assistance is Calculated
Eligible employers will receive a one-time lump sum payment, by direct deposit, calculated as follows:
$0.50 per hour x 80 hours x 13 bi-weekly pay periods x up to 20 employees = one-time lump sum payment
Available Assistance
- Eligible employers can claim the wage subsidy of 50 cents per hour for each employee, whose wage was less than $13.50 per hour prior to September 30, 2022 and who is paid at least $13.50 per hour as of October 1, 2022.
- Wage subsidy of $0.50 per hour is calculated based on non-variable 80 hours per bi-weekly pay period.
- Wage subsidy of $0.50 per hour is calculated using 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
- Eligible employers can claim the wage subsidy for up to 20 employees.
- Eligible employers will submit an online form once.
- Employers will be required to provide pay advice that prove that employees were paid less than $13.50 per hour prior to September 30, 2022.
- Submissions will be validated with supporting documents (four weeks of pay advice per each employee) provided by the employer.
- Once validated, eligible employers will receive the subsidy by direct deposit.
Contact
- Call: 204-945-3725 or 1-866-626-4862 (Toll Free)
- Email: mwap@gov.mb.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to this program?
Small businesses that employ minimum wage seasonal (summer) employees are now eligible to apply.
The program is open to all private sector, non-profit and charitable employers who are operating in the province of Manitoba and have up to 100 employees that work and are located in Manitoba.
How will it work?
Eligible employers can receive a subsidy of 50 cents per hour for each employee, up to a maximum of 20 employees, who were paid less than $13.50 per hour prior to September 30, 2022 and are now compensated at least $13.50 per hour, on October 1, 2022.
The subsidy is based on the number of employees employed in 2022. It is calculated using this formula:
$0.50 per hour x 80 hours x 13 bi-weekly pay periods x up to 20 employees = one-time lump sum payment
Examples:
| Number of employees | Non-variables $ 0.50 per hour 80 hours 13 bi-weekly pay periods |
One-time subsidy direct deposit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $520 |
| 2 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $1040 |
| 3 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $1560 |
| 4 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $2080 |
| 5 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $2600 |
| 6 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $3120 |
| 7 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $3640 |
| 8 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $4160 |
| 9 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $4680 |
| 10 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $5200 |
| 11 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $5720 |
| 12 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $6240 |
| 13 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $6760 |
| 14 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $7280 |
| 15 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $7800 |
| 16 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $8320 |
| 17 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $8840 |
| 18 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $9360 |
| 19 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $9880 |
| 20 | 0.50 x 80 x 13 | $10,400 |
The employer submits one online form and receives the subsidy by direct deposit once their submission and supporting documents are processed and validated.
The subsidy is available from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Eligible employers must apply once. Applications are accepted until March 31, 2023.
