Good news for some contract workers
President Biden signed an executive order on 27 April requiring hundreds of thousands of workers on federal contracts, such as cleaners, laborers and care assistants, to be paid a minimum wage of $15 an hour. It follows his unsuccessful attempt to introduce a $15 minimum wage across all 50 states as part of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. The increase to $15 will have to be reflected in all new contract solicitations by 30 January 2022 and all new contracts by 30 March 2022.
The federal minimum wage in the US hasn’t increased since 2009, when it was raised to $7.25 per hour. Many people will continue to fight for a new $15 national minimum wage however, as it would give 27 million Americans a boost in income and lift almost one million citizens out of poverty, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
While the possibility of a new, federal minimum wage is uncertain, some states already pay Biden’s recommended $15 per hour as standard. We’ve ranked the state-imposed minimum wages across the country – click or scroll through to see how your state compares.
lovemoney staff
20 July 2021
Features
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