Student and labour groups are opposed to a suggestion by the leader of the provincial Liberal party to set different minimum wages.

Jim Bennett has proposed that the minimum wage be increased to $8 an hour for everyone 18 and over, and lowered to only $6 an hour for anyone under that age.

Jim Bennett's proposal to set different minimum wages in the province is drawing criticism from student and labour groups. (CBC)

The current minimum hourly wage for everyone in the province is $6.50.

Nursing student Jennifer Best said she will be glad to graduate later this week because she will no longer have to accept jobs that pay minimum wage.

She said Bennett's idea is a step backward for young people.

"It's poverty," said Best.

"It's not fair for someone who's 16 to get paid less than someone who's 18 if they're doing the same job."

The chair of the Canadian Federation of Students, Jessica Magalios, said Bennett's idea will throw many young workers earning minimum wage even further below the poverty line.

She said lowering the minimum wage is a step in the wrong direction.

"The most current evidence suggests that a hike in minimum wage will stimulate the economy more and, in fact, is better for everybody," said Magalios.

The Federation of Labour is calling it a ridiculous and regressive proposal while the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Wayne Lucas, said the idea of two-tier wages is discriminatory.

"If this is the best Mr. Bennett can come up with, I guess they're going to be in opposition for a long time to come," said Lucas.

However, despite harsh criticism from students and labour groups, Bennett maintains the two-tier wage system would encourage employers to hire more young people.

"How we end up with something, or if it's even adopted or applied, is a secondary point," said Bennett.

"The most important point is to get the minimum wage discussion moving, get us to a liveable minimum wage and to get as many young people working as we possibly can."

Bennett said he is glad he has drawn reaction from different groups because he said his comments have started a debate over what the minimum wage should be in the province.