In a major decision, the D.C. Council has unanimously voted to increase the minimum wage from current $ 10.50 to $ 15.00 an hour.
The capital now joins several other cities and states including California and New York in effecting the raise that applies to retail, restaurant and service industry workers. The wage would rise gradually to $ 15.00 per hour by 2020.
Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has vowed to sign the new measure into law.
“I see how much it costs to live in Washington, D.C., and that cost is only going up,” she said, underscoring the need for uplift of the poor.
“Even at $15, it’s tough to be able to afford to live in Washington, D.C.”
The bill would raise the wage gradually until it hits $15 in 2020. However, as demanded by the capital’s restaurant-industry the tipped workers’ pay see smaller raise – with the base rate increasing from $2.77 an hour to $5 an hour.
Overall, increase in the minimum pay meets demands of national and district workers’ unions.
