As a temporary foreign worker (TFW) in Quebec, it is important to receive and review your pay stub. This document allows you to check your pay, the number of hours you worked, and the amounts that were deducted from your wages.
But do you really know what information appears on your pay stub and why certain amounts are deducted from your paycheck?
What is a pay stub?
A pay stub is the document your employer must provide when paying your wages. It contains information about your employment and your pay.
Depending on your situation, your pay stub may include:
- the pay period;
- the number of hours worked;
- your hourly rate or salary;
- overtime hours, when applicable;
- your gross pay;
- the different deductions;
- your net pay, meaning the amount you actually receive;
- certain accumulated amounts, such as vacation pay or other amounts.
It is important to keep your pay stubs, as they can serve as proof of your working conditions and the wages you have been paid.
Why is my pay different from my gross pay?
A common question is: “If I earn X dollars per hour, why do I receive less money in my bank account?”
The reason is that your gross pay is not necessarily the amount you will receive after deductions.
For example, your employer first calculates your gross pay based on the hours you worked. The applicable deductions are then subtracted from that amount. What remains is your net pay, which is the amount you actually receive.
- Gross pay → Deductions → Net pay
Deductions can include different amounts. Some are required by law, while others may depend on your employment situation.
What deductions can appear on my pay stub?
Some of the deductions that may appear on your pay stub include:
- contributions to the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP);
- contributions to the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP);
- Employment Insurance (EI) premiums;
- Quebec provincial income tax;
- federal income tax;
- certain authorized employment-related deductions, when applicable.
The fact that an amount appears on your pay stub does not necessarily mean that the deduction is incorrect. However, it is important to understand what each amount represents and to make sure it applies to your situation.
Why is it important to review my pay stub?
Reviewing your pay stub regularly can help you identify possible errors, such as:
- hours you worked that are missing;
- overtime hours that were not properly recorded;
- a different hourly wage than the one you agreed to;
- deductions you do not recognize;
- a difference between the pay shown on your pay stub and the amount you received.
If you find something you do not understand, do not hesitate to ask your employer for an explanation and keep all documents related to your wages and hours worked.
The deductions shown on a pay stub can be confusing, especially when they appear as abbreviations or terms you may not be familiar with.
That is why, in our next articles, we will explain the main deductions that may appear on your pay stub one by one—what they mean, what they are for, and what you should check.
In the next articles in this series, we will cover topics such as QPP, QPIP, Employment Insurance, income taxes, and other deductions that may appear on your pay stub.
At InfoTET d’Immigrant Québec, we continue to share useful information to help temporary foreign workers (TFWs) better understand their rights, obligations, and the different aspects of their work experience in Quebec.
