An apparent political deal among policy leaders in New Jersey has one of Maryland’s near-neighbors likely to phase in a $15 minimum wage.
The New York Times reports that Governor Philip Murphy (D) and legislative leaders have worked out differences on varying proposals for an increase to a statewide minimum wage of $15. From their article:
The agreement, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024, would place New Jersey among the most progressive states on the wage issue, joining California, New York and Massachusetts, and comes amid a growing commitment to help lower-income workers whose wages have remained stagnant even as corporate profits have experienced robust growth.
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The bill includes some exceptions: For seasonal workers and employees at small businesses who employ five workers or less, the base minimum wage would reach $15 an hour by 2026. For farmworkers, the base minimum wage would increase to $12.50 an hour by Jan. 1, 2024. Then, a special committee would review whether to raise those workers’ minimum wage to $15 an hour.
