Raising minimum wage is imperative
As chair and vice chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, we have been thrilled to see President Joe Biden and national Democrats push for a $15 minimum wage, including all four of Hawaiʻi’s U.S. congresspeople. This policy is necessary to provide all workers fair compensation for a fair day’s work.
This is why it’s been a top priority for the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi for years.
Workers throughout the state are struggling to make ends meet, put food on the table, pay rent and provide for their families. It’s well past time that they are not only called essential workers, but treated as such with wages that allow them the opportunity to meet their own basic needs.
We’re glad the Hawaiʻi State Senate has recognized this urgency to support all workers, following their numerous sacrifices during the past year. With SB676 passing the Senate, it’s now necessary it’s passed in the House.
SB676 is now in the hands of the Democratic leaders of the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives and the chairs of the Labor and Tourism Committee and the Finance Committee, which will hear the bill.
They will determine its fate, and we’re hopeful they will finally pass SB676 to give workers the raises they deserve.
