Bills to boost minimum wage to $15 an hour gain momentum at legislature
Proposals to raise Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage to $15 an hour are moving forward at the State Capitol.
With the state's cost of living one of the highest in the nation, the issue is a top priority for lawmakers this year. The current minimum wage is $10.10. House lawmakers are proposing two tiers of minimum wage.
For employers who provide workers with health coverage, the minimum wage will increase $10.50 starting January 2020. It will then go up 50 cents a year until it reaches $12.50 in 2024. For employees without health benefits, the minimum wage will increase to $11 in 2020, then increase a dollar every year until its at $15 in 2024.
The senate proposal starts 2020 at $12 and bumps the minimum wage up to $15 in 2023. To help ease the burden on businesses, it also includes a tax credit of up to $50,000 for qualifying companies.
