Gourt > Society > Issues > Labor > Minimum Wage
The minimum wage is the minimum rate a worker can legally be paid (often per hour) as set by statute. Each country sets its own minimum wage laws and regulations, and while a majority of industrialized countries have minimum wage laws, many developing countries do not.
The first minimum wage law was enacted by the government of New Zealand in 1894. Minimum wage laws were first introduced nationally in the United States in 1938 Note: Date enacted was 24 October 1938, France in 1950, and in the United Kingdom in 1999 Note: Date enacted was 1 April 1999. In the European Union, 18 out of 25 member states currently have national minimum wagesEurostat (2005): Minimum Wages 2005: Major Differences between EU Member States (PDF). Supporters say that minimum wages reduce exploitation, they can help ensure that everyone can afford to live and that they do not have negative effects on employment, or only very little. Opponents on the other hand contend that minimum wage causes inflation and unemployment, harms rather than helps the poorest workers, and slows economic growth.
Legislation in the Western industrialized world
More on [ Minimum wage ]
Minimum wage in CA is $8. Why buy $13 almond butter when it's $4.99 at the store? How can a person afford that? #profood
MegRaeB (Meg Brown) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:45:02 -0000
Minimum wage in CA is $8. Why buy $13 almond butter when it's $4.99 at the store? How can a person afford that? #profood
America's first minimum wage began at 25 cents an hour back in 1938.
Tr_Town (Diamond Team) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:30:18 -0000
America's first minimum wage began at 25 cents an hour back in 1938.
@joe_oliver he was! 2 absolute giants, but Blair pips Atlee as he won 3 elections. CA never brought in a minimum wage...NE1 know why?
Jack_Scott (Jack Scott) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:21:24 -0000
@joe_oliver he was! 2 absolute giants, but Blair pips Atlee as he won 3 elections. CA never brought in a minimum wage...NE1 know why?
Lookin for a pt job but I refuse to get a minimum wage job I'm not used to that any more
Mslonghair (Jessica Williams) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:51:49 -0000
Lookin for a pt job but I refuse to get a minimum wage job I'm not used to that any more
Minimum wage history & the poverty line: http://tinyurl.com/75zad
geolarson2 (George Larson II) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:50:44 -0000
Minimum wage history & the poverty line: http://tinyurl.com/75zad
RT @HeisJR: F this fat lady at Royal Farms f Jr life for trying to card me to buy cigs as if I don't look 18 u minimum wage whore!>damn man!
Tmugga (ThomasT) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:46:34 -0000
RT @HeisJR: F this fat lady at Royal Farms f Jr life for trying to card me to buy cigs as if I don't look 18 u minimum wage whore!>damn man!
Does an Increase in the Minimum Wage Result in a Higher Unemployment Rate? - Article discussing the employment effects of the minimum wage.
Ignoring Economics - An article arguing that the minimum wage is partly responsible for unemployment among not only African-American youth but also violent young French Muslims as well.
Justice and Charity in Wages - This article gives a Roman Catholic perspective on the minimum wage debate.
Livable Wage Legislation - From Vermont's livable wage campaign, lots of information about the economics and politics of raising the state's minimum wage.
Meta Description: [ Created in 1996 by the PJC, the Vermont Livable Wage Campaign (VLWC) is a coalition of local living wage groups, non-profit advocacy groups, unions, and religious communities. The VLWC is engaged in research, advocacy, educational programs, and grassroots organizing in it's dedication to ensuring... ]
Minimum Wage - Provides brief history of the minimum wage, its adjusted value over decades, and current efforts to increase it. Includes resources, reports, relevant legislation, and policy analysis. From the Coalition on Human Needs.
Minimum Wage - It Just Doesn't Add Up - Article on how US minimum wage jobs are not enough to support a family, and keep families in grinding poverty.
Minimum Wage and Fairness - Mackinac Center study arguing against the minimum wage, by Michael LaFaive.
Meta Description: [ An article on liberty and free markets as sound public policy for Michigan. ]
Minimum Wage Causes Maximum Pain - Essay concerning the origin of the minimum wage and its negative impact on women, minorities, and unskilled workers.
Meta Description: [ An article on liberty and free markets as sound public policy for Michigan. ]
Minimum Wage Employers Posting Strong Job Growth - From Oregon, a report showing strong growth in the restaurant and farm industries that pay the state's high minimum wage.
Minimum Wage Escalation - Examines legislation that would automatically escalate the minimum wage based on earnings elsewhere in the economy.
Minimum Wage Issue Guide - Economic Policy Institute guide on the benefits of the minimum wage and effects of an increase, FAQ, and database of related news articles.
Oregon Minimum Wage Increases Boost Welfare-to-Work Efforts - Report -5/29/98 - Report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Raising the National Minimum Wage: Information, Opinion, Research - A wide range of sources about the federal minimum wage, arguments both for and against raising it, research studies, news, politics, and the wage in other countries.
Meta Description: [ State, federal, and foreign minimum wages; the pros and cons of increases; immigration, subminimum wages, enforcement, and related issues. ]
Sense and Nonsense on the Minimum Wage - Article from Regulation magazine that argues against the minimum wage.
SuperSizeMyPay Canada - A campaign to end the Canadian training wage, raise the minimum wage to $12/hour, and win workers the respect they deserve.
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The Minimum Wage and Its Effects on Small Business - An economist's testimony to a House of Representatives subcommittee on why the federal minimum wage should be raised.
Meta Description: [ EPI Viewpoints ]
U.S. Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Division - Information from the federal Department of Labor.
Meta Description: [ The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. ]
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