State launching campaign to alert workers, businesses about pending minimum wage hike

Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated a comprehensive campaign to ensure that New Yorkers benefit from a significant minimum wage increase effective January 1. This increase, a result of an agreement between Governor Hochul and the state legislature, will see minimum wages rise to $16 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and to $15 per hour across the rest of the state.

Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of this increase for hard-working New Yorkers, stating, “On January 1, we are lifting New York’s minimum wage to help hard-working New Yorkers keep up with rising costs and continue supporting their families.” She urged minimum wage workers to file wage complaints if their paychecks do not reflect the increase next year. This move is part of a broader strategy to align wages with inflation, providing much-needed relief to hundreds of thousands of minimum wage workers in the state.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, Governor Hochul secured a historic deal to incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage through 2026, with plans to index it to inflation starting in 2027. This agreement includes a $0.50 annual increase in 2025 and 2026, followed by adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region starting in 2027.

To facilitate this transition, the New York State Department of Labor is launching a public awareness campaign. This campaign will use digital platforms and direct outreach, including social media, newsletters, emails, and partnering organizations to distribute informational flyers. For workers whose paychecks do not reflect the new minimum wage, a wage complaint can be filed on the NYSDOL website or by calling 833-910-4378. Governor Hochul expressed her commitment to this initiative, emphasizing the goal to “help people get ahead” in the face of rising living costs.