WASHINGTON DC – Democrats from Illinois locked arms Thursday to compel businesses nationwide to pay new employees a minimum of $15 per hour – a measure the state of Illinois is now implementing. All Republicans in the U.S. House from Illinois opposed the measure.
The measure is unlikely to be heard in the Republican-led U.S. Senate. According to Skopos Labs, there is a 24% chance of the measure being enacted.
Dubbed the "Raise the Wage" Act, H.R. 582 amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly-hired employees who are less than 20 years old.
The bill sets forth a schedule of annual increases in the federal minimum wage for individuals with disabilities. The Department of Labor shall no longer issue special certificates for the payment of sub-minimum wages to such individuals after the final wage increase under this bill for such individuals takes effect.
Labor shall provide, upon request, technical assistance and information to employers to: (1) help them transition their practices to comply with wage increases and other requirements under this bill for individuals with disabilities, and (2) ensure continuing employment opportunities for such individuals.
The bill eliminates the separate minimum wage requirements for tipped, newly hired, and disabled employees. After a specified period, these employees shall be paid the same minimum wage as regular employees.
Labor must publish any increase in the minimum wage in the Federal Register and on its website 60 days before it takes effect.
