Senator Adriano Espaillat Calls Minimum Wage Increase "a historic step towards equality"

"Today we made real progress in providing relief for low-wage workers who are increasingly struggling to afford our city. Hard working New Yorkers, that work full time jobs, must be able to provide for their families. It's what is best for our economy and what aligns with our core values. Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour will lift millions of New Yorkers out of poverty and is a historic step towards equality." 

Background on Minimum Wage Increase:

Workers in NYC employed by businesses with at least 11 employees: the minimum wage will increase to $11 at the end of 2016, $13 by the end of 2017 and $15 an hour at the end of 2018.

 Workers in NYC employed by businesses with 10 or fewer employees: the minimum wage will rise to $10.50 at the end of 2016, $12 at the end of 2017, $13.50 at the end of 2018 and $15 at the end of 2019.

Workers employed in  Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties: the minimum wage will increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, getting to $15 on at end of 2021.

Workers in the rest of the state: the minimum wage will increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 at the end of 2020.  Then indexed to $15.

An estimated  2.3 million people will be affected by this minimum wage increase when fully implemented. 

Farmworkers are including in the minimum wage increase.