The minimum wage of California was slated to rise to USD 10 per hour in the next three years. The state Senate had already approved the bill. It would be sent to the Assembly for a final vote before it goes to Governor Jerry Brown for final signing. Brown had voiced his support for the legislation early this week. He said it the wage increase would help the working class.
The bill would increase the minimum wage of California's workers from its current USD 8 an hour to USD 9 in July next year and then to USD 10 an hour by January 2016. Once approved, California would have one of the highest minimum wage rates in the US. The state that pays the highest rate so far is Washington at USD 9.19 per hour, according to the Associated Press.
The wage hike is California's first in six years. The California Chamber of Commerce, however, did not look forward to the wage hike. An advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Barrera, said the bill was a job killer as businesses had to face increased costs.
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