HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Connecticut's minimum wage increases from $12.00 to $13.00 per hour starting Sunday.
The one-dollar raise is part of a five-time increase in the minimum wage over a five-year period.
Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation in 2019 that bumped up the then-rate of $10.10 per hour to $15.00 per hour by June 1, 2023.
“Nobody working a full-time job should live in poverty,” Lamont said. "This is a fair, modest increase, and the money earned will go right back into our own economy, supporting local businesses in our communities.”
State Senator Matt Lesser (D) agreed, saying that people working full-time should be able to afford housing, food and basic necessities.
However, Lesser acknowledges that even $15.00 an hour may not be enough when living in a wealthy state like Connecticut.
To address this, the public act Lamont signed includes a provision that requires the minimum wage to become indexed to the employment cost index starting on January 1, 2024.
"So as inflation goes up, the minimum wage will also go up," Lesser said. "The idea is to, at least, make sure that we're not losing ground."
This will be the first time the minimum wage rate will grow according to economic indicators in Connecticut, state officials said.
Minimum wage workers will automatically see a pay increase after Sunday, Lesser said, and workers making a bit more are also likely to see an increase.
"This is a good time for workers to ask for a wage increase. There's a lot of people getting raises and that's a good thing. If you're in the economy, you should feel like you've got a pretty good negotiating position," Lesser said.
More information is available at the State Department of Labor website.