New Jersey’s minimum wage is set to increase by $1 to $15.13 an hour for most workers on Jan. 1 — an increase of $6.28 in five years.
Now, Gov. Phil Murphy says he’d be open to raising it again.
“ I think the debate [over raising the wage] upon reflection, given what people get paid these days, is almost quaint,” Murphy said Wednesday night on WNYC’s “Ask Governor Murphy” call-in show. “Frankly, I wonder whether or not we shouldn’t be taking this higher. That’s something that I’d be very open to.”
Murphy emphasized that he hasn’t had any conversations with legislative leaders about a new minimum wage standard, but suggested a rate of $18 or $20 an hour might be reasonable if phased in over time. He said an immediate increase would cause “sticker shock” and “that would impact, particularly, mom and pop businesses.”
In February 2019, Murphy signed a bill taking the state’s minimum wage from $8.85 for most employees to $10 that July, and $11 on Jan. 1, 2020. Under the law, the wage was set to rise at least $1 a year until it hit $15 in Jan. 1, 2024, though it could rise by more under a calculation tied to the Consumer Price Index, as it did at the start of 2023.
The state constitution also calls for the minimum wage to rise annually with the rate of inflation — meaning further increases are likely, but the amount isn’t set.
Not all workers will be at the $15.14 minimum next month:
- The law gives seasonal and small employers until 2026 to reach $15. They’re currently at a minimum of $12.93 and are slated to increase to $13.73 on Jan. 1.
- Agricultural employers have until 2027 to reach a $15 per hour minimum wage. Farm workers will see their minimum go from $12.01 to $12.81 on Jan. 1.
- Long-term care facility staffers are already above the $15 level — their minimum will rise from $17.13 to $18.13.
- Tipped workers will remain at $5.26 an hour, but able to claim a tip credit of $9.87, up $1. If a tipped worker’s wages and tips don’t meet…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply