Happy International Women’s Day!

The Halifax Chapter of Fight for 15 knows that women are some of the hardest workers out there. Women often work double time, working under formal employment as well as performing unpaid labour at home. It’s not a coincidence that jobs that have been traditionally considered ‘women’s work’ are underpaid. Women are disproportionately affected by the extremely low minimum wage in Nova Scotia, as they are over-represented in low wage sectors.

Did you know that in 2017 Nova Scotia had the highest percentage of women in low income out of all the provinces? Still, gender is not the only factor linked to poverty. Race, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, geographical location, age, and many other factors can determine someone’s class positioning in society.

For example:

33% of women who are visible minorities live below the poverty line in Nova Scotia.

22% of Indigenous women live below the poverty line in Nova Scotia.

23% of immigrant women live below the poverty line in Nova Scotia.

39% of single mothers live below the poverty line in Nova Scotia.

This is unacceptable.

At The Fight for 15, we know that the majority of workers who would benefit from a $15 minimum wage are women! Celebrate women by helping us fight for a fairer minimum wage and joining us on April 1st to rally for Nova Scotian workers!