PUBLIC POLICY

Minimum wage hike heads to Chafee for approval

PBN FILE PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
THE OCEAN STATE'S lowest earners could be getting their first pay bump in five years, reported the Associated Press.
Posted 6/12/12

PROVIDENCE – The Ocean State’s lowest earners could be getting their first pay bump in five years, reported the Associated Press.

On Monday, the R.I. House of Representatives voted 60-to-8 to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.40 an hour to $7.75 an hour.

Comparatively, the minimum hourly wage in Massachusetts and Connecticut is $8 and $8.25, respectively.

The state Senate approved the pay hike last week, and the measure is headed to Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee to approve.

According to the news source, some Republican lawmakers argue that the pay increase would prompt small businesses to delay new hire and food retailers have complained that higher wages will lead to an increase in food prices.

If approved by Chafee, who has made no comment on his support, the wage increase would go into effect in 2013.

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