IRVINE (AP) — The city of Irvine wants to repeal its living wage law, at a time when other cities around the nation are moving to adopt minimum wages.

The City Council voted Tuesday to repeal a 2007 ordinance requiring some companies with city contracts to pay their workers the same amount as the lowest-paid city employees - currently $10.82 per hour.

A second vote is needed to finalize the repeal.

Critics argued that the law doesn't keep people out of poverty and only places a burden on taxpayers. The council instead recommends that the city encourage contractors to voluntarily pay a living wage.

The Los Angeles City Council last week endorsed raising the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020.

Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago have passed similar laws.

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