California is set to raise its minimum wage 25% by 2016.
Currently California minimum wage is $8 per hour and expected to reach $10 per hour by 2016. California Governor Jerry Brown fully supports the new minimum wage bill and will gradually raise the wage to block the sudden shock from raising it at once. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
The bill was passed by the state Senate on Thursday and the State Assembly will vote soon on the bill. Many said it is just out of formality that they are voting and it is already a done deal.
Governor Brown is hoping that the minimum wage raise will ease the economical set back in California. However, many small business owners claimed that this move is a “back breaker” and could possibly result their businesses to close up. Also, The California Restaurant Association posted on its website, “A 25% increase in labor costs will result in fewer job opportunities for Californians looking to get back on their feet.” The association was encouraging its members to contact legislators to stop the bill because it believes that $2 raise per hour “will harm businesses”.
The bill is welcomed by minimum waged workers in California though. A fast-food restaurant worker in San Rafael, California, Juan Rodriguez said, “I’ve been working at the restaurant for 1 year and a half. With the salary I get every month, after paying rent I have nothing much left except for food. I have one kid at home, so it’s not enough money for all of us. Hopefully this [raise] can ease my financial burden.”
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com