Senate Bill Lowers Minimum Wage For Older Teens, Hikes Training Wage
LANSING (WWJ/AP) - The Michigan Senate is poised to approve a bill that would lower the minimum wage that can be paid to 18- and 19-year-old workers.
The legislation up for a vote on Wednesday would also raise a smaller minimum wage that employers can pay teens in their first 90 days of training.
Supporters say fewer minors are looking for work before age 18 and letting employers pay older teens less would incentivize them to give inexperienced workers a job. Opponents say 18- and 19-year-olds are adults and preventing them from earning the regular minimum wage would hurt college students.
Michigan's minimum wage is $8.15 an hour and will increase to $8.50 in January.
Current law sets the minimum wage for teens 17 and younger at 85 percent of the minimum wage -- $6.93.
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