マサチューセッツ州が最低賃金を11ドルに上げることを承認

June 20, 2014, CNN Money

マサチューセッツは、この国で最も高い州の最低賃金を設定する方向に向かっている。

木曜日、議員は、現在は8ドルの最低賃金を、2017年までに11ドルに上げる法律を最終的に承認した。

最低賃金を国全体で10.10ドルに上げることを支持しているオバマ大統領は、マサチューセッツのこの動きを歓迎した。

このマサチューセッツの法案は、tipped workersのsubminimum base wageを現在の2.63ドルから3.75ドルに上げることを決めている。

Lawmakers in the Bay State gave final approval on Thursday to legislation that will gradually raise the minimum to $11 an hour by 2017, up from $8 today. Governor Deval Patrick received the bill Thursday evening, said Jesse Mermell, a spokeswoman. He is expected to sign it into law soon.

President Obama, who supports a nationwide increase to $10.10, applauded the move, saying Massachusetts "joins a growing coalition of states, cities and counties that are doing (their) part to make sure no American working full-time has to support a family in poverty."

The Massachusetts bill also raised the subminimum base wage for tipped workers to $3.75 from $2.63 currently. While advocates for a higher minimum wage applaud Massachusetts move, they say the increase for tipped workers is subpar.

Compared to other states, which have set higher wage bases for tipped workers, "Massachusetts is a real outlier," said Paul Sonn, general counsel for the National Employment Law Project. If a tipped worker doesn't earn the equivalent of the full minimum wage, after counting both the subminimum base plus tips, employers are supposed to make up the difference. But, Sonn said, "there' s a lot of room for evasion."