Citizens of New York should be delighted to hear that the state's lawmakers are making provisions in increasing the minimum wage that they'll be receiving from $9 to $15. The lawmakers are looking for ways to make it possible while considering the economys future.
According to The Wichita Eagle, New York is set to join California on its path to make way for the $15 minimum wage under an agreement. The agreement is now headed to a vote in the state Legislature that would be beneficial to more than 2 million employees. The raise is part of the broader $156 billion state budget deal set for a vote on Thursday that contains calibrated increases.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this increase is designed to help working families while respecting diversities in the state's regional economies. He added "This minimum wage increase will be of national significance. It's raising the minimum wage in a way that's responsible."
The hike is expected to start with a slower pace as ABC reported. For most of the New York businesses, the minimum wage shall rise to $11 by the end of 2016 and will increase by $2 again until it reaches $15 on 2018. However, businesses with 10 or fewer employees should have the wage increased by 2019. Meanwhile, businesses outside of New York might need to wait until 2021 to be able to have the increase.
In 2019, the budget division and labor department will oversee the economy in each region and the effect of this increase in minimum wage to make a decision if there should be suspension on the proposal.
Moreover, there are provisions to suspend the increase from 2019 if the economic condition worsens as written by Huffington Post. Senator George Amadore said "It may not go to $15. There's no guarantee, that's the good thing." But Phil Steck argued that the opposite is true, as a lower minimum wage would be a blow to the upstate economy.
It is known that New York State already requires large food franchises to move forward in paying workers to $15. Governor Cuomo also said the same thing to state university workers.
