If you’re a minimum wage worker in New Jersey, you’re one step closer to getting a raise. That’s because the New Jersey Assembly has voted to increase the state’s minimum wage rate to $8.50 per hour. In addition to the rate increase, people making minimum wage would also get a raise every year based on movements in the Consumer Price Index. If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1st.
Right now, New Jersey’s minimum wage workers are making $7.25 per hour. That’s the minimum required by federal law, but some New Jersey lawmakers say their state needs to do better. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D, Essex) sponsored the bill because she believes that giving minimum wage workers more money to spend can boost the entire state’s economy.
Other lawmakers don’t see it that way, though.
Assemblyman Christopher J. Brown (R, Burlington) says that businesses may not be able to work higher wages into their budgets by July. He also says the pay raise could actually lead to problems for minimum wage workers because “they will spend themselves into more debt”.
Regardless of the debate, the bill is now headed to the State Senate. If it’s passed there, Governor Christie would have to sign it for it to become law — something he hasn’t promised to do yet.