By Bill Parry
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the minimum wage increase will take effect on New Year’s Eve, rising to $15 for large employers in New York City and continuing to rise across the state. The increases are part of a scheduled phase-in that was passed as part of the 2016-17 state budget.
“With the historic increase in the minimum wage, New York continues to set a national example in the fight for economic justice,” Cuomo said in a statement on Dec. 26. “In New York, we believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and we are proud to be stepping up for hardworking families and making a real difference in the lives of New Yorkers.” We won’t stop until every New Yorker is paid a fair wage they deserve.”
Cuomo also launched a Wage Theft Hotline, at 888-4-NYSDOL (888-469-7365), for workers to report employers for not complying with the increase. In coordination with the increase, the state Department of Labor will release a multimedia public education campaign to raise awareness about the new minimum wage.
The launch includes TV, digital, radio and subway ads reminding New Yorkers that all minimum wage workers across the state will receive a raise on Dec. 31.
City employers with 11 or more worker must pay $15 per hour, a jump from the current minimum of $13 an hour. The city’s smaller businesses with fewer than 11 employees will have to increase their minimum wage from $12 an hour to $13.50 an hour by the end of the year, and will have until Dec. 31, 2019 to reach a $15 minimum wage.
“We won’t stop until every New Yorker is paid a fair wage they deserve,” Cuomo said.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
