New Jersey lawmakers will vote to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour on Thursday.
It’s expected to win approval with Governor Phil Murphy moving quickly to sign it into law.
“Today, we are taking a historic step to provide more than one million New Jersey workers a stronger foothold in the middle class,” Governor Murphy said in a statement earlier this month.
The increase would be phased in, with the minimum wage increasing to $10 in July.It would then jump one dollar every year until it reaches $15 in 2024.
“A higher minimum wage strengthens all of New Jersey,” Murphy said.
The governor made raising the minimum wage a big promise during his campaign.But it took about a year to strike a deal with the state legislature.
“This plan will put New Jersey in the forefront of the national movement to build a high-wage economy,” Senate President Steve Sweeney said.
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