Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Governor
The $15 Minimum Wage Plan “is bringing real change for New York’s families and paying dividends across the entire state,” Gov. Cuomo said.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Minimum wages on Tuesday increased across every community in the Empire State.
The Dec. 31 pay-rate hike is part of the Minimum Wage Plan that Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law in 2016. The measure is being implemented in phases, ultimately achieving a statewide minimum wage of $15.
The plan “will not only lift up the current generation of low-wage workers and their families, but ensure fairness for future generations and enable them to climb the ladder of opportunity,” Cuomo said in ’16.
According to the administration, the phase-in schedule on a regional basis is as follows:
For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage increased to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on Dec. 31, 2018.
For workers in the five boroughs employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage increased to $10.50 at the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $13.50 on Dec. 31, 2018, and rising to $15 on New Year’s Eve, 2019.
For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, the minimum wage increased to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $12 on Dec. 31, 2018, rising to $15 on Dec. 31, 2021.
For workers in the rest of NY, the minimum wage increased to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after, rising to $11.10 on Dec. 31, 2018, reaching $12.50 on Dec. 31, 2020—after which the minimum wage will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor, Cuomo noted.
The governor pointed out on Monday that the minimum-wage hikes are calculated based on where an individual works, their industry, and, in some cases, the size of their employer’s business.
“With this monumental increase in the minimum wage, New York is continuing to lead the way to restoring economic justice for working families,” Cuomo said. “In 2016 we set an example for the rest of the nation to follow by raising the minimum wage to $15, and this year we are continuing to move forward with this successful plan that is bringing real change for New York’s families and paying dividends across the entire state.”
This week, Cuomo also reminded employers to update their required minimum wage informational posters. The State Department of Labor has established a hotline (888-4-NYSDOL) where minimum wage workers can call to report any employers who do not comply with the phase-in schedule.
New York Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said the 2016 Minimum Wage Plan is “helping to move millions of workers out of poverty and improving the quality of life for them and their families. Our workforce is our greatest asset in New York, and we must continue to protect our workers and do our part to help them thrive.”
