The minimum wage increases to $10.50 in 2016, $11 in 2017, $12 in 2018, and to a final minimum wage of $13 by 2019. Over five years, it will increase the earnings for approximately 410,000 Chicago workers, inject $860 million into the local economy, and lift 70,000 workers out of poverty. Photo by Megan Burnham

Over five years, it will increase the earnings for approximately 410,000 Chicago workers, inject $860 million into the local economy, and lift 70,000 workers out of poverty.

To ensure that workers know about their rights in the workplace, the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) has made available on their website the promulgated regulations and other informational materials, including a Notice to Employers and Employees, which business owners are required to display at their business. Informational materials will be available to business owners and workers in English, Spanish, Polish, Mandarin Chinese and Korean.

BACP will hold a workshop for business owners to learn more about the increase in the city’s minimum wage on Wednesday, July 8 from 3:00PM to 4:30PM at City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 805. The United States Department of Labor will also be on hand to answer questions regarding the federal minimum wage and overtime.

Throughout his career, Mayor Emanuel has fought for working families to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at the middle class, helping to pass the last two federal minimum wage increases. As chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2006 elections, then-Congressman Emanuel made a federal minimum wage increase part of the Democrats’ “100-hour Plan” of legislation to be enacted within the first 100 hours of a Democratic Congress. As Democratic Caucus Chairman in the 110th Congress, Mayor Emanuel worked with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 out of the House within the first week of the new Democratic majority. This bill increased the minimum wage by 40 percent, from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour, the first increase in more than a decade.