The Minimum Wage Must Be Increased Essay -- Federal Minimum Wage

"No family gets rich from earning the minimum wage. In fact, the current minimum wage does not even lift a family out of poverty." -- Jon Corzine Many people can think back and remember what it was like to put in an application for that first job and be presented with a position. Taking that position represents adulthood and is a very exciting time for a young person. All first jobs usually start with a minimum wage. Minimum wage is the minimum an employer has to pay an unskilled worker based on the regulations set forth by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that was originally established in 1938. As people think back about their first jobs they can also remember what the minimum wage was when they took that position. Minimum wage is only increased based on the cost of living from the prior year. If the previous year shows an increase then the minimum wage will increase in the coming new year. Sinegal (2009) stated "The increase in the minimum wage is long overdue. Paying your employees well is not only the right thing to do but it makes for good business". Based on the cost of living we show for the year of 2009 minimum wage will not increase for 2010. Minimum wage is currently at $7.25 per hour. Most people who start at this rate are young people who are in high school or college and are working a few hours to help pay for school. After they graduate they can apply for better jobs and move on. People who live in areas without growth, single mothers trying to raise their children, and uneducated people are working more than one minimum wage job to make enough money to pay their financial obligations. While the cost of living did not increase, minimum wage is low because no increase is planned for 2010 a... ...year’s cost of living. What constitutes cost of living to the federal government and it that assessment being addressed fairly? Minimum wage is too low. The federal government must raise the minimum wage so that the average American will not need to continue to work multiple jobs. References The Department of Labor. (2010). Compliance Assistance - Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/whd/flsa/index.htm The Department of Labor. (2010). [Graph Table State Minimum Wage] Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm About.com US Government Info. (2009). The Federal Minimum Wage. Retrieved from http://usgovinfo.about.com/blminimumwage.htm Sinegal, J. (2009). Business for Fair Minimum Wage. Quotable Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.businessforafairminimumwage.org/Quotes