Contact: Erika Martinez
(505) 986-4263
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2015
Senator Clemente Sanchez Proposes Bill to Raise New Mexico’s Minimum Wage to $8.30/Hour
Santa Fe, NM – This week, Senator Clemente Sanchez (D-30-Cibola, Socorro, McKinley & Valencia) introduced Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) proposing a minimum wage increase to $8.30 an hour. New Mexico’s minimum wage is currently $7.50 an hour.
“People who are working at a minimum wage need all the help they can get. Seven fifty an hour is not enough to live on when considering mortgages or rent, bills, and loans, especially when one adds children to the equation,” Sen. Sanchez said.
According to the bill, new employees will earn the current minimum wage of $7.50 an hour, while in training, for no longer than six months from the date of hire. After those six months, the increase will then be applied to their hourly wages. If passed, the law will go into effect January 1, 2016.
“Last year the Governor said she would have signed off on a minimum wage that was competitive with surrounding states. I feel this bill is indeed competitive and will not detract businesses from coming to New Mexico. I hope she’ll stick to her word and consider this bill seriously so we can help out our working folks out,” Sen. Sanchez added.
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