Minimum Wage / Cost of Labour

Areas of focused advocacy: work with members of the Business Coalition to establish a joint strategy regarding future minimum wage increases and ways to reduce the rising cost of labour.

Tourism establishments throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, especially small tourism operators, are feeling the impact of recent increases in the minimum wage. HNL, an active partner in the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition, advocates to government for solutions to help tourism organizations deal with the upward pressure being exerted on all wages by the continued elevation of the minimum wage and other increases in the cost of labour. HNL will continue to work with our partners to find solutions that work for tourism operators.

Labour Shortage

Areas of focused advocacy: facilitate transition into the workforce for underemployed persons, facilitate transition into the workforce for new immigrants, streamline Temporary Foreign Worker programs and the communication of programs and services available to assist tourism operators.

Labour shortages in the tourism sector eased in 2009/2010 in the wake of deteriorating economic conditions, but the industry cannot become complacent. As economic conditions improve, fuelling growth in demand for tourism services, the imbalance between labour supply and demand will begin to expand again.

By 2025, potential labour shortages in the tourism sector in Newfoundland and Labrador are projected to hit 13.4% for the entire province and 13.9% for St. John’s.

The projected labour shortages in the tourism sector are caused by the rising demand for labour during a period when the Newfoundland and Labrador labour force is expected to experience a sizable shift in its growth and composition. Traditionally, the tourism sector has relied heavily on young people as a source of labour. However, the rate at which young people are entering the labour force is decreasing, while competition to attract young workers is intensifying from other sectors of the economy.

HNL will continue to work with partner organizations to assist operators in meeting their demand for labour.

Labour Standards

Areas of focused advocacy: educate and build awareness in the tourism industry about current labour laws and employer rights.

HNL is committed to continuing to communicate and educate the tourism industry about their labour obligations and advocating on behalf of tourism organizations for labour standards that match the tourism business environment.