At Capitol, Health Experts Tie Low Wages To Low Life Expectancy
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- A group of health experts and faith leaders were at the state capitol Monday to ask lawmakers to raise wages to improve the health of workers.
Statistics show that low-income workers die eight years earlier than other workers.
Shaquonica Johnson, 37, has been a personal care attendant for 15 years. She works several different jobs at $8.50 an hour to care for her two children.
She says poor health cannot be separated from poverty wages.
"We need to raise the wage so that all Minnesota families have a better sense of health and to be able to live productive lives," Johnson said.
At the capitol, health experts also pointed out that many people don't get preventive care because they can't afford it. As a result, they end up at the hospital when they become seriously ill.