Rhode Island Senate approves gradual increase to $15 minimum wage
The state Senate on Wednesday moved Rhode Island closer to a $15-an-hour minimum wage.
In the end, after extending the timeline, the senators voted 30 to 6 to raise the state's minimum wage from $11.50 an hour in stages from $12.25 on Jan.1, 2022, to $13 on Jan.1, 2023, to $14 a year on Jan. 1, 2024, and $15 on Jan. 1, 2025.
The minimum wage hike was backed by Senate leaders, who intervened to prevent it being bottled up in the Labor Committee, and top Democratic officials including Gov. Gina Raimondo. Its lead sponsor is Sen. Ana Quezada, D-Providence.
The issue now moves to the House, where Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has been non-committal.
Read more: https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/10/ri-senate-approves-minimum-wage-hike-15-hour-2025/6704684002/