LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a citywide effort to help prepare employers and employees for L.A.’s minimum wage increase that is due to take effect in July.
“Our city will reach its potential when all hardworking Angelenos are part of L.A.’s economic resurgence,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This summer, those workers will get a well-deserved raise, and we must get the word out — so that everyone who is entitled to a higher wage, earns one. We also need to help businesses understand how to best integrate the raise into their plans for the future.”
In June 2015, Mayor Garcetti signed the largest anti-poverty measure in Los Angeles history — increasing the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by 2020, and establishing L.A. as the largest city in America to mandate higher pay for workers at the bottom of the income ladder.
The first increase goes into effect on July 1, 2016, mandating a minimum wage of $10.50 for companies that have 26 or more employees. The rate will go up for small business employees in 2017.
To ensure a smooth transition and maximize compliance with the new law, the City’s Bureau of Contract Administration is launching an extensive public education initiative to help prepare employers for the salary increase, and to inform employees of their rights.
The Bureau will initially provide a series of trainings for City staff, Neighborhood Councils, business associations, and labor unions on how to best educate their constituencies and members. The City will also partner with grassroots community outreach organizations to spread the word to working people and businesses throughout Los Angeles.
Mayor Garcetti today met with mayors and elected officials from across L.A. County to launch an effort to help promote and pass minimum wage increases throughout the County and at the state level. Taken together, the impact of these wage efforts will affect nearly six million people in the region.
