The Associate Press published the following article on December 31, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
250,000 low-wage earners to benefit from minimum wage hike on Jan. 1
By The Associated Press
on December 31, 2013 at 8:48 AM, updated December 31, 2013 at 8:49 AMTRENTON — A quarter-million low-wage workers will get raises tomorrow, when a change in the New Jersey constitution kicks in and increases the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 per hour.
Six in 10 voters approved the increase in November, granting the state’s first minimum wage hike since 2009. The constitutional amendment also guarantees future minimum wage hikes to the lowest paid workers as the cost of living rises.
A dozen other states are raising their minimum wage above the federal minimum of $7.25 on Jan. 1. In all, 21 states will have higher a higher minimum wage than the federal requirement next year, with 11 more and Washington, D.C., expected to consider increases.