New Decree on the Maintenance of Public Buildings in Montreal**

Karl Bedard
50 minutes ago
3 min read

Wage Increases and New Measures Through 2030

The Government of Quebec has officially adopted a regulation amending the Decree respecting building service employees in the Montreal region. The decree came into force on March 4, 2026, upon its publication in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

This amendment aims to align the decree with the collective agreement negotiated between the Service Employees Union, Local 800 – FTQ, and the Association of Building Service Contractors of Quebec Inc.

The new regulation introduces several important changes for the commercial cleaning industry, including a series of wage increases through 2030, the introduction of a progressive night shift premium, and adjustments to working conditions and the collective pension plan.

New Wage Increases

The decree provides for a gradual increase in minimum wages over several years, allowing companies and building managers to plan for the evolution of labour costs.

The new minimum hourly rates are as follows.

Effective Date	Class A	Class B	Class C
March 4, 2026	23,25 $	23,25 $	23,90 $
November 1, 2026	23,83 $	23,83 $	24,49 $
November 1, 2027	24,43 $	24,43 $	25,10 $
November 1, 2028	25,10 $	25,10 $	25,80 $
November 1, 2029	25,79 $	25,79 $	26,50 $
November 1, 2030	26,63 $	26,63 $	27,37 $

These rates represent the mandatory minimum wages applicable to workers covered by the decree in the Montreal region.

It is also important to note that the increase that came into effect on March 4, 2026, is not retroactive.

A New Progressive Night Shift Premium

The decree also introduces a night shift premium for workers whose majority of working hours take place between midnight and 8 a.m.

This premium will increase gradually.

Date	Minimum Premium
Mars 4, 2026	0,25 $ / hours
November 1, 2026	0,50 $ / hours
November 1, 2027	0,75 $ / hours
November 1, 2028	1,00 $ / hours

This measure aims to recognize the particular conditions of night work in the building maintenance sector.

Adjustment to the Collective Pension Plan

The regulation also modifies certain provisions related to the collective pension plan. The employer’s contribution to the collective pension plan is now set at $0.20 per paid hour for eligible employees who have obtained permanent status.

This contribution also applies to hours worked during the period leading up to the acquisition of permanent status.

Other Important Changes

The decree also introduces several adjustments to working conditions in the industry, including:

an increase in certain minimum paid work periods, which rise from 3 hours to 4 hours in some cases
changes regarding the rules related to leave, absences, and medical documentation
adjustments to the administrative rules that employers must submit to the parity committee
changes to rules related to seniority and certain provisions concerning annual leave and sick leave

These changes aim to modernize the regulatory framework and better reflect the practices negotiated in the sector’s collective agreement.

Impacts on the Building Maintenance Industry

A Gradual Increase in Labour Cost

The gradual increase in wages through 2030 will have a direct impact on the operating costs of maintenance companies.

Organizations will notably need to:

adjust their operating budgets
review certain long-term maintenance contracts
plan for cost increases in their service proposals

Increased Pressure on Productivity

With the increase in labour costs, many companies will seek to improve their operational efficiency.

This may involve:

optimizing work methods
better planning of maintenance operations
using technological tools to measure performance and work quality

A Potential Improvement in Workforce Attraction

These wage increases could also help make the sector more attractive.

In a context of labour shortages, more competitive wage conditions can help to:

attract new workers
reduce employee turnover
stabilize maintenance teams

In Summary

The amended decree respecting building service employees in the Montreal region introduces several structural changes for the industry.

The main measures include:

a gradual increase in wages through 2030
the introduction of a progressive night shift premium
an update to the rules regarding the collective pension plan
various modifications to working conditions and administrative rules

For companies and building managers, these changes will require appropriate financial and operational planning in order to maintain the performance and profitability of maintenance services.