On Thursday the Michigan Senate approved legislation that would increase Michigan's minimum wage from $7.40 to $9.20 an hour for regular employees and from $2.65 to $3.50 an hour for tipped workers.
If enacted, minimum wage rates would gradually rise every year until 2017 when it reaches $9.20. After 2017, Michigan's minimum wage would continue to rise at a rate tied inflation.
Michigan’s minimum wage will increase to $8.15 this year, $8.50 in 2015, $8.85 in 2016 and $9.20 in 2017.
The bill, introduced last week by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, initially called for wage increases of $8.15 an hour for regular employees and $2.93 an hour for tipped employees.
But after compromises made among Democrats and Republicans, the legislation passed with increased wage rates and ties to inflation.
“Raising Michigan’s minimum wage isn’t just good for our workers, it’s good for our state’s economy and I am glad that we were able to make some progress here today,” said Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint in a press release. “This legislation is not perfect, but it does secure much-needed and continuous increases to the state’s minimum wage.”
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