Minimum wage/ working question

[shawn1331]

Hey guys, I recently got a job at a gas station as the clerk and what not. The job pays minimum wage, which in Ontario is $10.25 I believe. My boss is an Indian guy, and he is paying me half of that so $5.10 an hour for training. I understand if you have a job that pays $30 an hour they are allowed to lower your wages to say $25 for training because it does not go under minimum wage. This case, the guy is obviously paying me under minimum wage.

The other thing I'm unsure of is whether he's paying me student wage which is lower and is $9.75 an hour. So he would be paying me $4.80 an hour. Which is ridiculous. Now, I want to bring up a case with the labour board to get my lost wages back and possibly a settlement because I am 16, I feel the guy thinks he can take advantage of me because I don't know my rights. He's correct on this because I've never run into this problem during training. I know most of the labour laws just not in this instance.

I'm not looking for a direct answer, but has anyone had this problem? What did you do? Did anyone hear of this before? Or do you straight out know that's illegal?

Thanks guys

[shawn1331]

Just called up the ministry, and she said it is definitely illegal. She said I had to decide what to do next so I'm gonna think it over. What should I do?

[Joe]

Hey man this is illegal. no one can pay you under minimum wage at any time. I know it maybe hard but you will need to tell him that, tell him it is illegal and he must pay you minimum wage for anytime you work from now on plus back pay for the hours you worked at the lower rate. If he fires you then he is only in more trouble he can be fined big bucks for unjust dismissal. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/emplo ... just.shtml here is more information on this. Even if you haven't been there for 12 months you still have a solid case. Contact the labor board to get things rolling.

[shawn1331]

Hey man this is illegal. no one can pay you under minimum wage at any time. I know it maybe hard but you will need to tell him that, tell him it is illegal and he must pay you minimum wage for anytime you work from now on plus back pay for the hours you worked at the lower rate. If he fires you then he is only in more trouble he can be fined big bucks for unjust dismissal. http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/emplo ... just.shtml here is more information on this. Even if you haven't been there for 12 months you still have a solid case. Contact the labor board to get things rolling.

Yep I figured that. I have 2 other jobs lined up for my self. I start on Tuesday and next Monday. I am gonna go in this weekend and work my shifts and then on Monday get a case with the labour board to see if I can get my lost wages back, from there I'll call him and offer if he pays me off for $300(he owes me $250 at the end of the weekend) that I'll keep it quiet and not contact the labour board. If he says no then I'll call the labour board and let his other employee's know they are entitled to money from him and go from there.

Thanks for the reply Joe.