The Federation of Labour is coming down on the business community for what it calls its “short-sightedness” on the minimum wage issue.

The Federation of Labour has long lobbied for $15 an hour minimum wage, and many are speculating as to whether the Liberal government will include the policy change in the upcoming budget.

Yesterday the St. John’s Board of Trade issued a release asking that government stick to a previous commitment to link minimum wage increases to the federal consumer price index.

CEO Rhonda Tulk-Lane says the right solution needs to be found to ensure that workers earn a living wage and small businesses aren’t forced to lay off workers to meet the cost.

She says its not labour vs business. There has to be a solution that addresses a very complex issue.

Federation of Labour President Mary Shortall says the province has the second lowest minimum wage in Canada and #Snowmageddon brought the issue into the limelight.

She calls suggestions that increasing minimum wage causes businesses to fail “fearmongering.”