Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Bill to Increase California's Minimum Wage

From the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency

Sacramento - Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1835,
which will increase California’s minimum wage from its current $6.75 per hour to $8 per
hour by January 1, 2008.
“Under Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, California’s economy has grown
dramatically, with nearly 600,000 new jobs created since he took office,” said Labor and
Workforce Development Agency Secretary Victoria Bradshaw. “The time is definitely right
for an increase in the state’s minimum wage.”
This is the first minimum wage increase in California since 2001 and it will take
place in two steps. On January 1, 2007 the minimum wage will increase by 75 cents to $7.50.
This will be followed by a 50 cent increase on January 1, 2008 where it will reach $8.00 per
hour.
“This is the first time that a California Governor has worked with the Legislature to
enact an increase in the state minimum wage,” said Bradshaw. “Prior increases have come
about either through action of the Industrial Welfare Commission or the electorate.”
As a result of the legislative agreement Governor Schwarzenegger reached with the
Legislature, the increase will affect more than 1 million Californians who currently earn
minimum wage, putting more than $2.5 billion dollars into the pockets of some of the
hardest-working people in our state.
LWDA’s Department of Industrial Relations will continue to assist businesses and
employer groups on how to comply with the minimum wage increase, and to help minimum
wage workers understand their rights through various educational workshops and seminars
DIR conducts for employers and workers. Minimum wage information will also be available
in several languages including Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese, among others. In addition,
information will be accessible by visiting the DIR website at www.dir.ca.gov/dlse

For more information about LA Works, contact:

Sandy Meza, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist
LA Works
(626) 960-3964 ext. 2224
sandy.meza@laworks.org

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