Businesses can soon put a sticker in their window to boast that they pay more than Ontario's $8 minimum wage.

The sticker campaign, spearheaded by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, is the latest effort by $10 minimum wage supporters to pressure businesses and the government into boosting the hourly rate.

New Democrats have been at the forefront of the campaign to increase the province's minimum wage and on Monday, New Democrat Cheri DiNovo lauded the campaign.

She said small businesses have welcomed the stickers because they will give them good publicity and attract ethical shoppers.

Critics of the campaign say stickers may offend businesses who already pay employees more than minimum wage, but don't want the wage boosted to $10 an hour.

Most small businesses already pay their employees more than required, Judith Andrew, Ontario vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, told the Canadian Press.

Layton vows to make it an election issue

Meanwhile, federal NDP Leader Jack Layton has vowed to join up with his provincial counterparts to make minimum wage an issue in the next federal election.

Layton spoke Monday morning at Queen's Park flanked by Ontario NDP Leader Howard Hampton and Toronto NDP MP Peggy Nash.

"We're collaborating because the problem should be addressed by both levels of government. It's something that governments can do; it's something that they should do; it's something that other jurisdictions have already done," he said.

The governing Liberals recently increased minimum wage to $8, but have said there are no plans to increase it further.

With files from the Canadian Press