The provincial government is holding the line on Saskatchewan's minimum wage, keeping it at $9.25 for the foreseeable future.

The province announced Friday that it was accepting a recommendation from a review panel to leave the wage where it is, until another regular review is done.

The panel said hiking the wage could be detrimental to Saskatchewan's economy.

"There is a concern that a change in the minimum wage at this time could have a negative effect on the economy," the panel said in its recommendation. "A further increase in the minimum wage may impact on the competitiveness of Saskatchewan businesses compared to their counterparts in other provinces."

The panel did endorse the concept of the indexation of the minimum, but said the idea needed more analysis.

The government said the minimum wage board has been asked to look into the indexation topic and report by Dec. 31, 2010.

The due date for the next overall review of the minimum wage, by the board, is Dec. 31, 2011.

According to the review panel there are 36,000 people in Saskatchewan who earn minimum wage, or about 7 per cent of the workforce. Most of them are in the retail sales or food services sector.

The panel noted that, compared to other minimum wage rates across the country, Saskatchewan ranked fourth behind Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia.

The ranking takes into account proposed hikes in other jurisdictions, to take effect in 2010.