Minimum Wage To Rise 70 Cents On Thursday

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A 70-cent increase in the minimum hourly wage of federal employees takes effect on Thursday.

The increase, the second of an annually staggered federal wage increase mandated by Congress, will make the minimum wage of some six million government workers $6.55 an hour. Restaurants, hotels, and other low wage industries also follow the rate for their workers.

The first increase in federal minimum wages after 10 years took effect on July 24, 2007. It raised the wage to $5.85 an hour.

One year from Thursday, the last 70-cent legislated increase in the hourly minimum wage will take effect and will cover some 12 million workers.