Minimum Wage Workers In NY, NJ To Get Raises In 2015
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The new year will bring an increase in the hourly minimum wage in 21 states, including New York and New Jersey.
Minimum wage workers in New York will see their hourly rate jump from $8 to $8.75, while the wage will rise in New Jersey from $8.25 to $8.38.
While the increase in New Jersey is modest, it will help the lowest-paid workers in the state by adding $55 million in new wages, said Jon Whiten with the New Jersey Policy Perspective.
"This will help them not have to rely as much on charity and on state government programs in order to survive," he told WCBS 880's Monica Miller.
But Whiten said it's still not enough to make ends meet.
"Just a basic survival budget -- make no mention of saving or eating healthier food or anything like that -- that's $13.78 an hour," he said.
Whiten noted that there are proposals to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Critics, however, have argued that raising the minimum wage too much could result in layoffs. But Whiten said that's "not really a valid concern."
"Over time, the call and the fear that it's going to hurt businesses and kill jobs, when that doesn't get realized, lawmakers can understand," he said.
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